FAA Inspects Cracked Helicopter Fork Levers for Safety
Published Date: 12/16/2025
Rule
Summary
If you own or fly certain Airbus Helicopters Deutschland models, listen up! The FAA found cracks in a key part called the fork lever and now requires inspections to catch damage or missing pieces. Starting December 31, 2025, you’ll need to check, fix, and report any issues to keep flying safe—and don’t install any suspect parts unless they meet new rules.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 4 costs, 1 mixed.
Estimated per-helicopter compliance costs
The FAA estimates this AD affects 40 U.S.-registered helicopters and that the basic fork-lever inspection costs about 1 work-hour at $85, or $85 per helicopter. If repairs are needed, on-condition costs listed include replacing a fork lever at about $12,321, replacing a mixing lever assembly at about $22,188, and other repairs ranging from $510 to $1,014.
Mandatory fork lever inspections by Dec 31, 2025
If you own or operate the listed Airbus Helicopters Deutschland models, you must visually inspect the fork lever and mixing lever assembly no later than 30 days after December 31, 2025. If a visual inspection shows a line with no visible gap or misalignment, you must perform a borescope inspection before further flight. The rule applies to the specific models named in the AD and uses hours time-in-service for flight-hour compliance.
Installation and special flight permit restrictions
The AD prohibits installing affected fork levers unless certain requirements in the AD are met, and special flight permits are explicitly prohibited. That means operators cannot rely on a special flight permit to move an affected helicopter; compliance actions and any allowed installations must meet the AD conditions.
10‑day mandatory inspection reporting to Airbus
After performing the inspection required by this AD, you must report the inspection results directly to Airbus Helicopters within 10 days of accomplishing the inspection. The FAA estimates the reporting burden at about 1 work-hour (the Paperwork Reduction Act OMB Control Number is 2120-0056).
AD narrows inspection definitions and compliance rules
This FAA AD modifies EASA AD 2025-0217 in specific ways: it replaces certain EASA wording to define discrepancies (including missing locking devices, deformation, scratches, gouges, bearing play, or corrosion), requires using this AD's effective date, and requires using hours time-in-service where EASA used flight hours. These clarified definitions and substitutions must be followed for compliance.
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