# 2026-08316: FAA Proposes Regular Crack Inspections for Leonardo Helicopter Ducts 2026-08316, Airworthiness Directives; Leonardo S.p.a. Helicopters, is a Federal Register proposed rule from Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration published 2026-04-29, effective The FAA must receive comments on this NPRM by June 15, 2026.; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-06-11). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-08316 - As of: 2026-06-11 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Document number: 2026-08316 - Title: Airworthiness Directives; Leonardo S.p.a. Helicopters - Type: Proposed Rule - Agencies: Transportation Department; Federal Aviation Administration - Citation: 91 FR 23031 - Published: 2026-04-29 - Effective: The FAA must receive comments on this NPRM by June 15, 2026. - Comments close: not stated - Significant: no - Touches household money: yes - Regulation identifier numbers: 2120-AA64 - Last updated: 2026-06-11 ## In one line FAA Proposes Regular Crack Inspections for Leonardo Helicopter Ducts ## Summary If you own or operate a Leonardo AW189 helicopter, listen up! The FAA wants you to regularly check the left and right ejector ducts for cracks and replace any damaged parts to keep flying safe. Comments on this new rule are open until June 15, 2026, so get ready to act soon and keep your helicopter in top shape without breaking the bank. ## Abstract The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Leonardo S.p.a. Model AW189 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of cracking on the ejector ducts. This proposed AD would require repetitively inspecting the left-hand (LH) side and right-hand (RH) side ejector ducts, including the exhaust bracket reinforcements and reinforcement plates, and, depending on the results, replacing any affected ejector duct. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. ## Effects PRIA read - Mandatory AW189 Ejector-Duct Inspections: cost, high. If you own or operate a Leonardo AW189 helicopter, the FAA proposes a new rule that would require repetitive inspections of the left-hand and right-hand ejector ducts (P/N 8G7810P00131 and P/N 8G7810P00231), including the exhaust bracket reinforcements and reinforcement plates, and replacement of a… - Estimated Inspection Labor Cost: cost, medium. The FAA estimates each visual inspection of an ejector duct (including bracket reinforcements and plates) takes 2 work-hours at $85 per hour, or $170 per inspection. The FAA estimates the proposed AD would affect four U.S.-registered AW189 helicopters, giving a combined FAA-estimated cost of $680 p… - High On-Condition Replacement Cost: cost, high. If an inspection finds damage, replacing an ejector duct is estimated to cost $32,177 per replacement (2 work-hours at $85/hr = $170 labor, plus $32,007 parts). The FAA did not estimate how many helicopters will need replacements. - Certain Serial Numbers Face Shorter Deadlines: cost, low. Helicopters with manufacturer serial numbers 49018, 49019, 49025, or 49028 are subject to shorter compliance times under the EASA analysis and therefore would be required to inspect sooner than other AW189s. This distinction is explicitly stated in the MCAI incorporated by reference. - No FAA Reporting or Parts Return Requirement: benefit, low. Although EASA AD 2025-0064 would have operators report inspection results or return parts, the FAA's proposed AD explicitly does not require reporting inspection results to the manufacturer or returning parts. 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Airplanes](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-08322) - [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-08316 (as of 2026-06-11).