# 2026-00247: Helicopter Life Rafts Leaking? FAA Says Swap That Gas Cylinder Now!

2026-00247, Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters, is a Federal Register proposed rule from Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration published 2026-01-09, effective The FAA must receive comments on this NPRM by February 23, 2026. (as of 2026-06-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-00247
- As of: 2026-06-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-00247
- Title: Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters
- Type: Proposed Rule
- Agencies: Transportation Department; Federal Aviation Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 929
- Published: 2026-01-09
- 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

Helicopter Life Rafts Leaking? FAA Says Swap That Gas Cylinder Now!

## Summary

If you own or operate an Airbus H160-B helicopter, heads up! The FAA wants you to replace the emergency life raft system’s gas cylinder container because it might leak due to a design gap. You can’t install the old part anymore unless it meets new safety rules, and comments on this proposal are open until February 23, 2026. This fix keeps everyone safer without breaking the bank.

## Abstract

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Model H160-B helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a leak on a gas cylinder within the emergency life raft system (ELRS) container assembly due to geometrical gaps between the burst disk and the valve body. This proposed AD would require replacing the ELRS container assembly. This proposed AD would prohibit installing an affected ELRS container assembly unless certain requirements are met. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

## Effects PRIA read

- Mandatory ELRS Container Replacement: cost, low. If you own or operate an Airbus Helicopters Model H160-B, the FAA proposes you must replace the emergency life raft system (ELRS) container assembly because a gas cylinder may leak. The FAA estimates it would affect nine U.S.-registered helicopters and shows a labor estimate of 2 work-hours x $85/h…
- Installation of Affected Parts Prohibited: cost, low. The proposed rule would prohibit installing an affected ELRS container assembly on any H160-B helicopter unless certain requirements are met per the incorporated EASA AD 2025-0130R1. This means operators and maintenance providers cannot fit the old assemblies unless they meet the specified conditio…
- Repair Options Expanded to FAA Facilities: benefit, low. Unlike the EASA rule, this FAA proposal lets operators send affected ELRS container assemblies to a Safran Aerosystems repair facility or to an FAA-approved repair facility. That gives U.S. operators an additional approved repair option in the U.S. system.
- FAA Waives EASA Reporting Requirement: benefit, low. Although the EASA AD asks operators to submit certain information to the manufacturer, the FAA's proposed AD explicitly does not require that reporting. Operators do not have to send the manufacturer the information specified in the EASA material to comply with the FAA AD.
- Special Flight Permits Limited Over-Water Flights: mixed, low. The proposed AD allows special flight permits in accordance with 14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199 only if there are no flights over water. That means you may be permitted to fly the helicopter for repositioning or maintenance, but you cannot fly it over water under special permit.

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## Sources
- [2026-00247 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/09/2026-00247/airworthiness-directives-airbus-helicopters)
- [2026-00247 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-01-09/pdf/2026-00247.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-00241, Eliminating Regulatory Barriers to Competition: Review of Part 1144](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-00241)
- [Next: 2026-00254, Backup Withholding on Third Party Network Transactions](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-00254)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-00247 (as of 2026-06-11).