Airbus Helicopters Get Vibration Check Mandate – Safety First
Published Date: 3/13/2026
Rule
Summary
If you fly certain Airbus Helicopters like the AS332 series, new safety rules kick in April 17, 2026. The FAA is updating past rules to now require regular checks of helicopter vibrations during flight and fixing any problems found. These changes keep pilots and passengers safer without big costs but do need some extra attention and maintenance.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Mandatory removal for some AS332s
If your Airbus Helicopter AS332C, AS332C1, AS332L, or AS332L1 is equipped with a dual hoist installation and a de-icing system and does NOT have Airbus modification 0722907 installed, you must within 7 days after May 20, 2020 remove the removable parts of the dual hoist or remove the de-icing system in accordance with the specified Emergency Alert Service Bulletin procedures.
Required in-flight vibration checks
For helicopters with Airbus modification 0722907 installed, within 110 hours time-in-service or 30 days (whichever is first) after the effective date of this AD (April 17, 2026) and thereafter during the first flight after each specified maintenance task, you must perform an in-flight vibration level measurement at 12 Hz per ASB AS332-04-00-0001. If the vibration between 11.7 Hz and 12.7 Hz exceeds 0.08g (0.40 IPS), you must, before further flight, revise the configuration by removing the dual hoist or the blade de-icing harnesses per the ASB.
Estimated compliance costs and fleet size
The FAA estimates this AD affects five helicopters on the U.S. registry. Estimated costs: removing the dual hoist or removing the de-icing system is 12 work-hours × $85 = $1,020 per helicopter; measuring vibrations is 7 work-hours × $85 = $595 per measurement cycle; revising the RFM or installing a placard is 1 work-hour = $85 each. The FAA states it cannot predict how many helicopters will need on-condition repairs based on inspection results.
Optional placard/RFM alternative
For helicopters without Airbus modification 0722907, you may comply with the removal requirement by revising the rotorcraft flight manual with the information in Appendix 4A/4B/4C of EASB AS332 01.00.96 and installing a locally made placard on the instrument panel, per section 3.B.1 of that EASB. The FAA estimates revising the RFM or installing a placard costs about 1 work-hour each (about $85 each).
Pilot-performed checks and record rules
The owner/operator pilot holding at least a private pilot certificate may perform the in-flight vibration measurement and must enter compliance into the helicopter maintenance records in accordance with 14 CFR 43.9(a) and 91.417(a)(2)(v). The AD specifies that the pilot-performed check is allowed because it involves only recording in-flight data and inserting pages into the RFM.
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