FAA Orders Inspections on Airbus Helicopter Booms
Published Date: 9/16/2025
Rule
Summary
If you fly an Airbus Helicopters Deutschland model like the EC135 or MBB-BK 117, listen up! The FAA wants you to check how many times your hoist boom has been used, inspect it carefully, and fix any problems right away. You can’t put in certain hoist booms unless they meet new safety rules, so get ready to act fast and keep your chopper safe.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Hoist Boom Cycle Counts Required
If you operate an Airbus Helicopters Deutschland model (listed EC135 variants or MBB-BK 117 C-2/D-2/D-3), you must determine the total accumulated cycles for certain hoist boom assemblies and perform inspections. After inspecting, you must take any required corrective action based on the inspection results to address the unsafe condition.
Installation of Certain Hoists Prohibited
You are prohibited from installing the specified hoist boom assemblies on the listed EC135 and MBB-BK 117 helicopter models unless those hoist booms meet the AD's requirements. This means you cannot legally put in certain hoist booms until they satisfy the new safety conditions.
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