# 2025-15657: Airbus Choppers Grounded? FAA Demands Blade Crack Checks ASAP

2025-15657, Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters, is a Federal Register rule from Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration published 2025-08-18; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-06-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-15657
- As of: 2026-06-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2025-15657
- Title: Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Transportation Department; Federal Aviation Administration
- Citation: 90 FR 40025
- Published: 2025-08-18
- Effective: unknown
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: 2120-AA64
- Last updated: 2026-06-11

## In one line

Airbus Choppers Grounded? FAA Demands Blade Crack Checks ASAP

## Summary

If you fly Airbus EC 130 B4 or T2 helicopters, listen up! The FAA found that some tail rotor blades might crack and wants you to check them out ASAP. If cracks show up, you’ll need to swap the blade for a safe one—and you can’t put old blades back in unless you follow the new rules. This keeps everyone flying safe without breaking the bank or the clock.

## Abstract

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Model EC 130 B4 and EC 130 T2 helicopters. This AD was prompted by the determination that fatigue cracks may develop at the root section of certain tail rotor blades (TRBs). This AD requires inspecting those TRBs and, depending on the results, replacing the TRB with a serviceable TRB. This AD also prohibits installing those TRBs unless certain actions are accomplished. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

## Effects PRIA read

- Mandatory EC130 Tail‑Rotor Inspections: cost, medium. This rule applies to all Airbus Helicopters Model EC 130 B4 and EC 130 T2 helicopters and requires inspecting certain tail rotor blades (TRBs) for fatigue cracks. You must perform the required inspections on those TRBs as directed by the airworthiness directive.
- Replace or Restrict Faulty Tail Blades: cost, medium. If inspections show cracks in the specified tail rotor blades, the AD requires replacing the cracked TRB with a serviceable TRB. The AD also prohibits installing those TRBs unless the specified corrective actions are accomplished.

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## Sources
- [2025-15657 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/08/18/2025-15657/airworthiness-directives-airbus-helicopters)
- [2025-15657 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-08-18/pdf/2025-15657.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2025-15652, Obsolete Grant and Contract Regulations](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-15652)
- [Next: 2025-15685, Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-15685)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-15657 (as of 2026-06-11).