# 2026-03576: FAA Orders Checks on Chopper Life-Raft Batteries Now

2026-03576, Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters, is a Federal Register proposed rule from Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration published 2026-02-23, effective The FAA must receive comments on this NPRM by April 9, 2026. (as of 2026-06-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-03576
- As of: 2026-06-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-03576
- Title: Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters
- Type: Proposed Rule
- Agencies: Transportation Department; Federal Aviation Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 8393
- Published: 2026-02-23
- Effective: The FAA must receive comments on this NPRM by April 9, 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 Orders Checks on Chopper Life-Raft Batteries Now

## Summary

If you fly an Airbus H160-B helicopter, heads up! The FAA wants you to check the emergency life-raft’s personal locator beacon (PLB) battery and rope connections to make sure they work right. You might need to test, fix, or replace parts soon, and some parts won’t be allowed anymore. Comments on this plan are open until April 9, 2026, so get ready to act and keep flying safe!

## 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 reports of a fully discharged personal locator beacon (PLB) battery installed on an emergency life-raft system (ELRS), as well as a report where the ropes connecting the two ELRS to the PLB were not correctly attached. This proposed AD would require performing a functional test of the PLB and inspecting the rope connection to the ELRS. Depending on the results of the functional test, this proposed AD would require performing the functional test again or replacing affected parts, and depending on the results of the rope inspection, correctly attaching the wrist strap of the PLB to the ELRS rope. This proposed AD would also prohibit the installation of a certain part- numbered PLB and the rope connection to the ELRS, unless certain requirements are met. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

## Effects PRIA read

- Required PLB Test and Rope Inspection: cost, medium. If you operate an Airbus H160-B helicopter, the FAA would require you to perform a functional test of the personal locator beacon (PLB) and inspect the rope/wrist strap connection to the emergency life-raft system (ELRS). The NPRM estimates the test costs $85 and the wrist-strap inspection costs $8…
- On‑Condition Replacement Costs: cost, high. If a PLB or its battery fails the required tests, you may need to replace the battery pack or the entire PLB. The FAA lists an estimated cost to replace a battery pack of $2,258 per helicopter and to replace a full PLB of $5,478 per helicopter; correcting an incorrectly attached wrist strap is esti…
- Prohibition on Certain PLB/Rope Installations: cost, low. The proposed AD would prohibit installing the affected PLB (EASA-identified P/N U256M30T1001, manufacturer P/N 500-32-2Y-H) or the rope between that PLB and the ELRS unless specific requirements are met. That restriction applies to installers and operators handling those parts.

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## Sources
- [2026-03576 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/23/2026-03576/airworthiness-directives-airbus-helicopters)
- [2026-03576 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-02-23/pdf/2026-03576.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-03549, Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Canada Limited Partnership (Type Certificate P…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-03549)
- [Next: 2026-03595, Employment Authorization Reform for Asylum Applicants](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-03595)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-03576 (as of 2026-06-11).