# 2026-01183: Cracked Helicopter Parts Spark FAA's Urgent Inspection Mandate 2026-01183, Airworthiness Directives; Leonardo S.p.A. Helicopters, is a Federal Register rule from Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration published 2026-01-22, effective 2026-02-06 (as of 2026-06-11). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-01183 - As of: 2026-06-11 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Document number: 2026-01183 - Title: Airworthiness Directives; Leonardo S.p.A. Helicopters - Type: Rule - Agencies: Transportation Department; Federal Aviation Administration - Citation: 91 FR 2679 - Published: 2026-01-22 - Effective: 2026-02-06 - Comments close: not stated - Significant: no - Touches household money: no - Regulation identifier numbers: 2120-AA64 - Last updated: 2026-06-11 ## In one line Cracked Helicopter Parts Spark FAA's Urgent Inspection Mandate ## Summary If you fly a Leonardo AB412 or AB412 EP helicopter, listen up! The FAA found a crack in a key part called the left upper cap angle and now requires regular checks to keep things safe. Starting February 6, 2026, owners must inspect and fix any problems quickly—so no surprises or costly repairs down the line! ## Abstract The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Leonardo S.p.A. Model AB412 and AB412 EP helicopters. This AD was prompted by a report of a cracked left upper cap angle (cap angle) having a certain part-number. This AD requires repetitively inspecting the cap angle and, depending on the results, performing corrective actions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. ## Effects PRIA read - Mandatory inspections for AB412 series: cost, medium. If you operate a Leonardo Model AB412 or AB412 EP helicopter, you must inspect the left upper cap angle (P/N 212-030-191-1) for cracks. The AD is effective February 6, 2026; you must do an initial inspection within 5 hours time-in-service after that date and then perform repetitive inspections per… - No U.S. compliance costs now: benefit, low. The FAA states there are no costs of compliance with this AD because there are currently no helicopters with these type certificates on the U.S. Registry. That means, today, U.S. operators do not incur costs from this AD. - AB212 model not covered by FAA AD: benefit, low. Although the EASA action expanded applicability to Model AB212 helicopters, this FAA AD does not apply to AB212 because that model does not have an FAA type certificate. Owners of AB212 helicopters are not subject to this FAA AD. - No manufacturer reporting required: benefit, low. EASA AD 2024-0104 asks operators to submit certain information to the manufacturer, but this FAA AD explicitly does not require sending those reports to Leonardo. You are not required by this FAA AD to submit the manufacturer reporting specified in the EASA AD. - Approved repair methods required before flight: cost, medium. If the inspection finds any crack or damage (including "smoking of the fitting attachment" or "crazing of sealant bead around the fitting" as crack indications), repairs must be done before further flight using a method approved by the Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA; or EASA; or Leon… ## Related documents - [2026-15585](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15585): Requirements for Interference-Tolerant Radio Altimeter Systems, 2026-07-31 - [2026-13440](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-13440): Enabling Supersonic Overland Flight, 2026-07-02 - [2026-13126](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-13126): Designation-Restrict the Operation of Unmanned Aircraft in Close Proximity to a Fixed Site Facility; Extension of Comment Period, 2026-06-30 - [2026-08943](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-08943): Designation-Restrict the Operation of Unmanned Aircraft in Close Proximity to a Fixed Site Facility, 2026-05-06 - [2025-04846](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-04846): Extension of the Prohibition Against Certain Flights in the Territory and Airspace of Libya, 2025-03-20 - [2025-03853](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-03853): Enforcement Policy Regarding “Drug and Alcohol Testing of Certificated Repair Station Employees Located Outside of the United States; Corre…, 2025-03-11 ## Sources - [2026-01183 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/22/2026-01183/airworthiness-directives-leonardo-spa-helicopters) - [2026-01183 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-01-22/pdf/2026-01183.pdf) ## Related - [Previous: 2026-01182, Airworthiness Directives; PZL-Swidnik S.A. Helicopters](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-01182) - [Next: 2026-01188, Clarification of VA's Processing of Survivors Benefits Claims](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-01188) - [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-01183 (as of 2026-06-11).