New Inspections and Parts Required for Sikorsky Helicopter Models
Published Date: 4/23/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
The FAA wants to update safety rules for certain Sikorsky helicopters by adding more models and requiring new fixes to the tail rotor blades. Pilots and owners will need to do extra inspections and install special safety parts to keep flying safe. Comments on these changes are open until June 8, 2026, and some costs for parts and inspections might come up.
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Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 5 costs, 0 mixed.
Required TRB modifications with big upfront cost
The rule requires affected TRBs to be modified and re‑identified: either install the split pitch horn modification (certain P/Ns) or install the safety enhancement modification kit (certain P/Ns). The FAA estimates installing the split pitch horn costs $50,510 per product (6 work‑hours plus $50,000 parts) and the safety enhancement kit costs $300,510 per product (6 work‑hours plus $300,000 parts). Compliance is required within 12 months after the AD effective date for TRBs manufactured on or before December 31, 2007, and within 48 months for TRBs manufactured on or after January 1, 2008.
High cost if TRBs need replacement
If inspections find disbonding that requires replacing TRBs (set of two, unmodified), the FAA estimates replacement cost at $192,814 per product (6 work‑hours plus $192,304 parts). The FAA cannot predict how many helicopters will need on‑condition replacement.
Daily tail‑rotor preflight inspections
If your helicopter has tail rotor blade (TRB) P/N 70101-31000 installed, you must visually inspect each TRB and tap test the pitch‑horn bond before the first flight of each day. The FAA estimates this inspection is 1 work‑hour at $85 ($85 per inspection) and reports an aggregate $8,160 per inspection cycle across affected U.S. helicopters.
More helicopter models now covered
This proposed AD expands applicability to add Sikorsky Model S‑70M and restricted‑category military surplus Models EH‑60A, HH‑60L, UH‑60A, and UH‑60L with TRB P/N 70101-31000 installed. The FAA estimates the AD would affect 96 helicopters of U.S. registry.
Mandatory maintenance manual update
After the safety enhancement modification, operators must revise the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the helicopter maintenance manual or instructions for continued airworthiness to incorporate Sikorsky Temporary Revision No. 82 (dated June 27, 2023). The FAA estimates revising the ALS takes 1 work‑hour at $85.
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