Helicopter Owners: Inspect Those Gearboxes or Grounded You Go
Published Date: 8/19/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
If you fly certain Airbus AS 332L2 or EC 225LP helicopters, new safety rules are coming your way! The FAA wants you to keep doing inspections but also add a cool new upgrade to the main gearbox parts to keep things safe. You’ll need to act on this soon, and it might cost some time and money, but it’s all about keeping your chopper flying safely.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
Mandatory MGB suspension modification
If you own or operate certain Airbus Model AS 332L2 or EC 225LP helicopters, the proposed AD would require you to modify the main gearbox (MGB) suspension bar, perform torque inspections, and carry out any corrective actions specified by the AD.
Retain life‑limit and inspections
If you own or operate certain Airbus Model AS 332L2 or EC 225LP helicopters, this proposed rule keeps the existing requirements from AD 2020-06-12 to determine accumulated hours (time-in-service) for certain main gearbox (MGB) suspension bar bolts and fittings, apply a life‑limit add‑on factor, and inspect the torque of certain MGB suspension bar attachment nuts.
Prohibition on installing specific bolt
If you modify the MGB suspension bar as required by the proposed AD, you would be prohibited from installing a certain specified bolt on any helicopter after that modification is done.
Credit for initial service life calculations
The proposed AD would allow credit for the initial service life calculations for certain parts if you meet the AD's specified requirements, which may reduce some repeated calculation or inspection steps.
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