FAA Updates Safety Rules for More Sikorsky Helicopter Models
Published Date: 4/23/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
The FAA wants to update safety rules for certain Sikorsky helicopters by adding more models and requiring new fixes to the tail rotor blades. Pilots and owners will need to do extra inspections and install special safety parts to keep flying safe. Comments on these changes are open until June 8, 2026, and some costs for parts and inspections might come with the upgrades.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.
Mandatory TRB modifications and re-identification
You must modify affected TRBs by installing either the split pitch horn modification or the safety enhancement modification kit and then re-identify the TRB with the new part number. For certain P/Ns the safety enhancement changes the TRB to P/N 70070-10052-041; for P/N 70101-31000-046 the split pitch horn results in P/N 70070-15005-042. Compliance times: TRBs manufactured on or before December 31, 2007 must be modified within 12 months after the AD's effective date; TRBs manufactured on or after January 1, 2008 must be modified within 48 months after the AD's effective date.
FAA cost estimates for inspections and fixes
The FAA estimates this AD would affect 96 U.S.-registered helicopters. Estimated costs include $85 per inspection, $50,510 per helicopter to install the split pitch horn modification, $300,510 per helicopter to install the safety enhancement kit, $85 to revise the airworthiness limitations section, and $192,814 to replace a set of two unmodified TRBs. The FAA lists fleet totals up to $4,848,960 for the split pitch-horn option and up to $28,848,960 for the safety-enhancement option.
More helicopter models must comply
The rule expands which helicopters must follow the AD to add Sikorsky Model S-70M and restricted-category military-surplus Models EH-60A, HH-60L, UH-60A, and UH-60L with the specified TRB part number. Owners/operators of those added models will now be subject to the inspections, modifications, and manual changes the AD requires.
Daily preflight tail-rotor checks required
You must visually inspect and tap-test each affected tail rotor blade (TRB) before the first flight of each day. If you find a crack, leading edge erosion, trailing edge disbonding/separation, or any disbonding at the pitch horn-to-torque-tube bond area, you must remove and replace the TRB before further flight.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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