FAA Orders Helicopter Window Ring Inspections for Safety
Published Date: 4/13/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
The FAA wants Airbus Helicopters Model H160-B owners to check their jettisonable windows for missing retaining rings on hinge pins. If any rings are missing, they must be installed to keep the helicopter safe. Comments on this plan are open until May 28, 2026, and fixing this issue could save money by preventing bigger problems later.
Free Policy Watch
New rules are filed every week. Most people never see them.
Pick a topic. PRIA watches every federal rule and tells you when one hits your household.
Pick a topic to get started
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Inspect and Fix H160-B Jettison Windows
If you operate an Airbus Helicopters Model H160-B (as identified in EASA AD 2025-0161), you must inspect all hinge pins on the jettisonable window systems for missing retaining rings and install any missing retaining rings. The FAA proposes to require compliance with EASA AD 2025-0161 (dated July 29, 2025), because missing rings could prevent a window from jettisoning and affect evacuation during an emergency.
FAA Cost Estimates for Compliance
The FAA estimates the proposed AD would affect 12 helicopters on the U.S. registry. Inspecting each helicopter is estimated at 2 work-hours × $85/hour = $170 per helicopter (covering 108 rings per helicopter in the inspection), and installing a missing retaining ring is estimated at $50 per ring.
No Mandatory Reporting to Manufacturer
Although EASA AD 2025-0161 asks operators to submit certain information to the manufacturer, the FAA's proposed AD does not require submitting that information. Operators are therefore not required by this FAA AD to send inspection results to the manufacturer.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Take It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Start a Free Government Policy Watch to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.
Already have an account? Sign in