FAA: Swap Those Shaky Turbine Blades on Safran Choppers Now
Published Date: 3/13/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
The FAA wants all Safran ARRIUS 2F and 2R helicopter engines to get certain high-pressure turbine blades replaced because some blades might have tiny flaws from a recent manufacturing change. This fix is to keep flights safe and follows a similar European safety rule. Engine owners should act before the deadline and expect some costs for the blade swap.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Mandatory blade replacements for ARRIUS engines
The FAA proposes an airworthiness directive requiring replacement of affected high-pressure (HP) turbine blades on all Safran Model ARRIUS 2F and ARRIUS 2R engines, as specified in EASA AD 2024-0218R1 (dated December 19, 2024). The FAA says the blades may have weakened mechanical strength and could cause an in-flight shutdown if not replaced.
Estimated per-engine and fleet replacement costs
The FAA estimates replacement will cost $106,650 per engine (40 work-hours at $85/hour = $3,400 labor plus $103,250 parts). The FAA estimates the total cost to U.S. operators for 127 affected engines would be $13,544,550.
Manufacturer raised blade use limits
Safran published a revised service bulletin increasing the HP turbine blade use limits from 2,500 engine cycles to 4,500 engine cycles for ARRIUS 2F engines, and from 5,000 engine cycles to 9,000 engine cycles for ARRIUS 2R engines. EASA issued EASA AD 2024-0218R1 after this service bulletin.
FAA will not require manufacturer reporting
Although the EASA-referenced service information asks operators to submit certain information to the manufacturer, the FAA's proposed AD explicitly does not include that reporting requirement. Operators would not be required by this FAA AD to send those reports to the manufacturer.
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