# 2026-01956: Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (AHD) Helicopters 2026-01956, Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (AHD) 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/2026-01956 - As of: 2026-06-11 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Document number: 2026-01956 - Title: Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (AHD) Helicopters - Type: Rule - Agencies: Transportation Department; Federal Aviation Administration - Citation: 91 FR 4434 - 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 fly Airbus Helicopters Deutschland EC135 models, listen up! The FAA is updating safety rules to include newer EC135P3 and EC135T3 helicopters and speeding up inspections for cracks in a key ring frame part. You can either keep inspecting or modify the part to stop inspections—this kicks in February 17, 2026, so plan ahead to keep your chopper safe and flying. ## Abstract The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2014-13- 09, which applied to certain Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (AHD) helicopters Model EC135P1, EC135P2, EC135P2+, EC135T1, EC135T2, and EC135T2+ helicopters. AD 2014-13-09 required repetitive visual inspections of the ring frame X9227 for a crack, and if there is a crack, replacing the ring frame. Since the FAA issued AD 2014-13-09, AHD Helicopters determined that this unsafe condition also applies to AHD Model EC135P3 and EC135T3 helicopters. This AD continues to require some of the actions required by AD 2014-13-09 and expands the applicability by including AHD Model EC135P3 and EC135T3 helicopters and also reduces the compliance time for the repetitive inspections. This AD also allows the modification of the ring frame X9227 as terminating action for the repetitive visual inspections. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. ## Effects PRIA read - New EC135P3/T3 Models Covered: cost, medium. If you operate Airbus Helicopters Deutschland Model EC135P3 or EC135T3 helicopters with mounting ring frame X9227 installed, this AD expands applicability to include those models effective February 17, 2026. The rule replaces AD 2014-13-09 and now explicitly lists EC135P3 and EC135T3 among affected… - Accelerated Inspection Schedule: cost, medium. This AD requires the initial inspection for certain helicopters to be done within 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 25 hours TIS. These shorter compliance times are effective February 17, 2026 and supersede the previous inspection intervals from AD 2014-13-09. - Mandatory Inspections and Replacement Rule: cost, medium. You must perform the actions specified in EASA AD 2025-0174R1 (incorporated by reference) including visual inspections of ring frame X9227, and if a crack is found the FAA AD requires replacing the ring frame with an airworthy part. This AD is effective February 17, 2026. - Optional Retrofit Stops Inspections: mixed, medium. The AD allows modifying ring frame X9227 as an optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections; modifying with retrofit kit SB-135-53-030-2C1 is estimated at $5,133 (17 work-hours + $3,688 parts) or using kit SB-135-53-030-2C2 at $2,883 (17 work-hours + $1,438 parts). The AD treats the m… - Estimated Inspection Labor Cost and Fleet Impact: cost, low. The FAA estimates each required inspection of ring frame X9227 takes 1 work-hour at $85 per hour (cost $85 per inspection) and that the AD affects 370 helicopters of U.S. registry, for a one-time inspection cost across the U.S. fleet of $31,450. These cost estimates are effective for the AD that st… - Special Flight Permits Prohibited: cost, low. The AD explicitly prohibits special flight permits for affected helicopters. This prohibition is effective February 17, 2026 and means you cannot use a special flight permit to ferry an affected helicopter under this AD. ## 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 - [2026-01956 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/02/2026-01956/airworthiness-directives-airbus-helicopters-deutschland-gmbh-ahd-helicopters) - [2026-01956 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-02-02/pdf/2026-01956.pdf) ## Related - [Previous: 2026-01955, Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-01955) - [Next: 2026-02033, Transfer of Delegation of Authority From the Office of Energy Policy and Innova…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-02033) - [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-01956 (as of 2026-06-11).