FAA Warns: Your Helicopter Tail Might Fall Off Mid-Flight!
Published Date: 3/3/2026
Rule
Summary
If you fly or work with certain Airbus Helicopters, listen up! Starting March 18, 2026, you must inspect the horizontal stabilizer carefully to prevent it from falling off mid-flight. This means checking bolts, holes, and parts regularly, fixing any problems fast, and only installing parts that meet strict rules. These safety checks might cost some time and money but keep everyone flying safe and sound.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.
Immediate inspections required for stabilizer
If you operate or maintain Airbus Helicopters Model AS332 (all listed variants) or EC225LP, you must do an initial detailed inspection of the horizontal stabilizer by March 18, 2026 and within 20 hours time-in-service or 30 days after that effective date, whichever comes first. The initial inspection requires removing the stabilizer to check the flange, bolt torque, and measure hole ovalization and tube/bracket dimensions, and you must perform repetitive borescope inspections thereafter.
Parts installation restricted to inspected new parts
You may not install an affected horizontal stabilizer on these helicopters unless the part is new (never previously installed) and it passed the inspection required by EASA Emergency AD 2026-0015-E at the time of installation. The AD explicitly prohibits installation of affected parts that do not meet that requirement.
No special flight permits for initial inspection
Special flight permits (ferry flights) are prohibited for the purpose of accomplishing the required initial inspection of the horizontal stabilizer. That means you cannot fly the helicopter under a special flight permit to a maintenance facility for the initial removal inspection required by this AD.
Repairs must use FAA/EASA/DOA‑approved methods
Where the EASA AD referred to contacting Airbus Helicopters for repair instructions, this FAA AD requires that any repair be done using a method approved by the FAA Manager, International Validation Branch, EASA, or Airbus Helicopters' EASA Design Organization Approval (DOA). Repairs must be completed before further flight.
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