# 2026-01955: Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters

2026-01955, Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters, is a Federal Register rule from Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration published 2026-02-02, effective 2026-02-17 (as of 2026-06-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-01955
- As of: 2026-06-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-01955
- Title: Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Transportation Department; Federal Aviation Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 4431
- Published: 2026-02-02
- Effective: 2026-02-17
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: 2120-AA64
- Last updated: 2026-06-11

## Summary

If you own or operate an Airbus H160-B helicopter, listen up! The FAA found a serious problem where a key rotor part can break mid-flight, so they’re requiring you to swap out certain pitch rod bearings with new, safer ones by February 17, 2026. This fix keeps flights safe and stops faulty parts from being used again. You’ll also need to report once the replacement is done, and the FAA wants your feedback by March 19, 2026.

## Abstract

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Model H160-B helicopters. The FAA previously sent this AD as an emergency AD to all known U.S. owners and operators of these helicopters. This emergency AD was prompted by a report of the main rotor pitch rod rupturing during flight. This AD requires replacing the upper and lower pitch rod end bearings on the pitch rods of the main rotor with new pitch rod end bearings and reporting information after accomplishment of the replacement. This emergency AD also prohibits installing any affected main rotor lower and upper pitch rod end bearings on any helicopter, unless it is a serviceable part. The FAA is issuing this emergency AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

## Effects PRIA read

- Mandatory bearing replacement by Feb 17: cost, high. If you own or operate an Airbus Helicopters Model H160-B, you must replace the upper and lower main rotor pitch rod end bearings with new, serviceable parts. This AD is effective February 17, 2026, and also prohibits installing any affected main rotor lower and upper pitch rod end bearings on any h…
- Substantial per-helicopter compliance cost: cost, high. The FAA estimates this AD affects 13 U.S.-registered H160-B helicopters. Estimated cost to replace the upper and lower pitch rod end bearings is up to $135,250 per helicopter (labor: 8 work-hours × $85/hour = $680; parts: up to $134,570). The FAA estimates total cost on U.S. operators up to $1,758,…
- Mandatory reporting and parts return paperwork: cost, low. After replacing the pitch rod bearings you must report information and return parts as required by the AD. The FAA estimates reporting will take about 1 hour per response (at $85/hour) and return-of-parts paperwork about 1 hour plus roughly $50 shipping (about $135 per replacement cycle). The Paper…
- Operational limits, TIS threshold, and flight rules: cost, medium. The FAA identified a significant risk for helicopters with affected parts that have exceeded 160 hours time-in-service (TIS). Given the urgency, the FAA permits only one additional flight of maximum duration 5 hours TIS before mandatory replacement of those parts. Separately, the regulatory text st…

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## Sources
- [2026-01955 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/02/2026-01955/airworthiness-directives-airbus-helicopters)
- [2026-01955 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-02-02/pdf/2026-01955.pdf)

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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-01955 (as of 2026-06-11).