# 2026-00138: FAA Demands Stricter Manuals for Airbus Choppers to Stay Aloft

2026-00138, Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters, is a Federal Register proposed rule from Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration published 2026-01-08, effective The FAA must receive comments on this NPRM by February 23, 2026. (as of 2026-06-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-00138
- As of: 2026-06-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-00138
- Title: Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters
- Type: Proposed Rule
- Agencies: Transportation Department; Federal Aviation Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 648
- Published: 2026-01-08
- Effective: The FAA must receive comments on this NPRM by February 23, 2026.
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: 2120-AA64
- Last updated: 2026-06-11

## In one line

FAA Demands Stricter Manuals for Airbus Choppers to Stay Aloft

## Summary

If you own or work with certain Airbus Helicopters like the AS350 or EC130 models, the FAA wants you to update your maintenance manuals with new, stricter safety rules. These changes aim to keep your helicopters flying safely by fixing issues found since the last update. You’ve got until February 23, 2026, to share your thoughts before these new rules take off!

## Abstract

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-11-08, which applies to all Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350D, EC130B4, and EC130T2 helicopters. AD 2022-11-08 requires incorporating into maintenance records certain requirements (airworthiness limitations). Since the FAA issued AD 2022-11-08, it was determined that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This proposed AD would require revising the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the existing maintenance manual (MM) or instructions for continued airworthiness (ICAs) and the existing approved maintenance or inspection program, as applicable. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

## Effects PRIA read

- Revise maintenance manuals fast: cost, low. If you operate certain Airbus Helicopters (Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, or AS350D), the FAA would require you to revise the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of your maintenance manual, instructions for continued airworthiness, and approved maintenance or inspection program. You must make…
- Must follow EASA AD 2024-0133R1: cost, low. This proposed FAA AD would require compliance with European Union Aviation Safety Agency AD 2024-0133R1 (dated June 27, 2025). That EASA AD specifies replacing components before exceeding life limits and accomplishing the new and more restrictive maintenance tasks, thresholds, intervals, and repeti…
- FAA cost estimate: $85 each: cost, low. The FAA estimates this proposed AD would affect 963 U.S.-registered helicopters. The FAA estimates 1 work-hour at $85 per helicopter to revise the ALS, giving an estimated cost per product of $85 and a total cost on U.S. operators of $81,855.
- FAA shortens compliance window: cost, low. Where EASA allowed revising the approved Aircraft Maintenance Programme within 12 months, this proposed FAA AD would require revising the airworthiness limitations and applicable maintenance/inspection program within 30 days after the effective date of this AD. That shorter 30-day timeline speeds u…
- Some models not affected (AS350BB): benefit, low. EASA AD 2024-0133R1 applies to Model AS350BB, but this FAA proposed AD would not apply to AS350BB because that model does not have an FAA type certificate. Owners/operators of AS350BB are therefore not covered by this FAA proposed AD.

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## Sources
- [2026-00138 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/08/2026-00138/airworthiness-directives-airbus-helicopters)
- [2026-00138 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-01-08/pdf/2026-00138.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-00137, Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-00137)
- [Next: 2026-00171, Special Conditions: ZeroAvia, Inc. Model ZA601 Electric Engines](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-00171)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-00138 (as of 2026-06-11).