FAA Mandates Stricter Inspections for Airbus Helicopter Gearboxes
Published Date: 12/8/2025
Rule
Summary
If you fly Airbus Helicopters AS 332L2 or EC 225LP models, listen up! The FAA is updating safety rules to keep your main gearbox bolts and fittings in top shape by requiring inspections and a new design upgrade. Starting January 12, 2026, you’ll need to follow these steps to stay safe and legal—plus, some parts can’t be installed after the fix, so plan ahead!
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 5 costs, 0 mixed.
Immediate life‑limit checks for bolts and fittings
If you operate Airbus Helicopters Model AS 332L2 or EC 225LP, you must review records within 30 hours time‑in‑service (TIS) after January 12, 2026 to determine total hours TIS of certain main gearbox (MGB) suspension bar bolts and fittings and apply the add‑on life‑limit factor from the referenced Airbus Emergency Alert Service Bulletins (EASB Rev 4). Any bolt or fitting that has reached or exceeded its life limit must be removed from service before further flight, and operators must continue to recalculate and record life limits before each flight.
Mandatory modification (install MGB links) with deadlines
You must modify the helicopter by installing MGB suspension bar attachment bracket links by the stated deadlines: for Model AS 332L2 within 825 hours TIS or 27 months after January 12, 2026 (whichever is first); for Model EC 225LP within 1,320 hours TIS or 40 months after January 12, 2026. Completing the required modification terminates the life‑limit requirements in the AD.
Torque inspections and required fixes
For affected AS 332L2 helicopters (per applicability) you must inspect the torque of each MGB suspension bar attachment nut within 150 hours TIS (without the add‑on factor) after January 12, 2026. If torque is above the maximum or below the minimum, you must remove and replace the nut and its bolt before further flight or tighten to the specified torque (front nuts 735–840 lbf·in; rear nuts 496–566 lbf·in) and then remove tightened parts within 150 hours.
Installation ban on specific bolts and fittings
As of January 12, 2026, you may not install specified front bolt P/N 332A22‑1613‑20 or 332A22‑1613‑21, rear bolt P/N 332A22‑1614‑20, or listed front/rear fitting P/Ns on any helicopter unless the part has not exceeded its service life limit after performing the life‑limit calculations and you calculate and record the part's life limit per the AD after installation.
Estimated U.S. fleet impact and compliance costs
The FAA estimates this AD affects 30 U.S. helicopters (2 AS 332L2 and 28 EC 225LP). Example cost estimates: record reviews 0.5 hour ($43) per component; replacing a fitting about $7,680 each (8 hours + $7,000 parts); replacing a bolt about $429 each (4 hours + $89 parts); torque inspection about $340 (4 hours); and modification up to $57,845 per modification (up to four modifications per helicopter).
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