FAA Orders Checks on Airbus Helicopter Parts to Prevent Failures
Published Date: 2/26/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
If you fly an Airbus Helicopters Deutschland MBB-BK 117 C-2 or D-2, listen up! The FAA wants you to check some key parts for wear, report what you find, and fix any problems fast. This keeps your helicopter safe and stops worn parts from causing trouble, with rules kicking in soon and some parts now off-limits unless they meet strict standards.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Mandatory inspections, reports, and fixes
If you operate an Airbus Helicopters Deutschland MBB-BK 117 C-2 or MBB-BK 117 D-2, the FAA would require you to measure the radial play of certain control rod assembly and pitch link assembly spherical bearings, report the measurement results, and take corrective action depending on those results. These actions are specified in a referenced EASA airworthiness directive and would be required by the proposed FAA AD.
Prohibition on installing certain assemblies
The proposed AD would prohibit installing certain control rod assemblies and pitch link assemblies on the MBB-BK 117 C-2 and D-2 unless those parts meet specified requirements. If you maintain or replace these parts, you may be restricted from using some assemblies unless they satisfy the AD's conditions.
Action to address unsafe bearing wear
The FAA is proposing this AD because of reports of significant wear of the control rod assembly and pitch link assembly spherical bearings on MBB-BK 117 C-2 and D-2 helicopters. The AD's inspection, reporting, corrective, and installation rules are intended to address that unsafe condition and keep those helicopters safe to fly.
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Key Dates
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