# 2026-13034: FAA Orders Tail Rotor Checks on Airbus Choppers 2026-13034, Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (AHD) Helicopters, is a Federal Register proposed rule from Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration published 2026-06-29, effective The FAA must receive comments on this NPRM by August 13, 2026.; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-07-06). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-13034 - As of: 2026-07-06 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Document number: 2026-13034 - Title: Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (AHD) Helicopters - Type: Proposed Rule - Agencies: Transportation Department; Federal Aviation Administration - Citation: 91 FR 39043 - Published: 2026-06-29 - Effective: The FAA must receive comments on this NPRM by August 13, 2026. - Comments close: 2026-08-13 - Significant: no - Touches household money: yes - Regulation identifier numbers: 2120-AA64 - Last updated: 2026-07-06 ## In one line FAA Orders Tail Rotor Checks on Airbus Choppers ## Summary If you own or operate certain Airbus Helicopters Deutschland models, listen up! The FAA wants you to regularly check your tail rotor blades for cracks caused by corrosion and replace any damaged parts to keep flying safe. Comments on this new rule are open until August 13, 2026, so get ready to inspect and possibly spend some bucks to keep your chopper in top shape. ## Abstract The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (AHD) Model EC135P1, EC135P2, EC135P2+, EC135P3, EC135T1, EC135T2, EC135T2+, EC135T3, and EC635T2+ helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a separated tail rotor blade (TRB) assembly due to a crack caused by intergranular corrosion. This proposed AD would require repetitively inspecting a certain TRB assembly for cracks and, depending on the results, removing any cracked TRB assembly from service and replacing an affected part as terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This proposed AD would also prohibit installing a certain TRB assembly on any helicopter unless certain requirements are met. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. ## Effects PRIA read - Mandatory Repetitive Tail-Rotor Inspections: cost, high. If you own or operate the listed Airbus Helicopters Deutschland models, you must repetitively inspect certain tail rotor blade (TRB) assemblies for cracks caused by intergranular corrosion. The proposed rule applies to Model EC135P1, EC135P2, EC135P2+, EC135P3, EC135T1, EC135T2, EC135T2+, EC135T3,… - Replace Cracked TRB Assemblies: cost, high. If an inspection finds a crack in an affected TRB assembly, you must remove the cracked TRB assembly from service and replace it with a serviceable part as required by the AD. The AD makes replacement a required terminating action for the repetitive inspections. - Installation Prohibition for Affected TRBs: cost, medium. The proposed AD would prohibit installing certain TRB assemblies on any helicopter unless specified requirements are met. Replacing an affected TRB with an eligible (not-affected) TRB assembly is identified as terminating action for certain repetitive inspections. - Required Replacement Deadline: 1,432 Hours: cost, medium. The AD requires that an affected TRB part be replaced before it accumulates 1,432 hours time-in-service (TIS) since first installation, or within 10 hours TIS after the AD's effective date, whichever occurs later. This is a hard compliance threshold operators must meet. - Estimated Inspection and Replacement Costs: cost, medium. The FAA estimates the proposed AD would affect 359 U.S.-registered helicopters. Estimated inspection cost per TRB assembly is up to $305 (3 work-hours at $85/hr plus $50 parts), and the FAA estimates fleet inspection cost up to $109,495. On-condition replacement cost is estimated at $4,900 parts pl… - Inspection Method Restrictions and Cleaning: cost, low. The AD includes exceptions that restrict use of certain inspection methods: where a type II visible dye inspection (Method A) was previously used, the AD requires Method B or eddy current instead of fluorescent penetrant; if not previously inspected by type II visible dye, operators must use eddy c… - No Special Flight Permits Allowed: cost, low. The proposed AD states that special flight permits under 14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199 are not allowed for affected helicopters. Operators cannot rely on special flight permits to ferry helicopters that are out of compliance with 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 - [2026-13034 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/06/29/2026-13034/airworthiness-directives-airbus-helicopters-deutschland-gmbh-ahd-helicopters) - [2026-13034 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-06-29/pdf/2026-13034.pdf) ## Related - [Previous: 2026-13024, Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-13024) - [Next: 2026-13047, Establishment Registration and Product Listing for Tobacco Products](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-13047) - [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-13034 (as of 2026-07-06).