# 2026-15370: Fancy Helicopters Get Duct-Tape Inspection Mandate from FAA

2026-15370, Airworthiness Directives; Leonardo S.p.a. Helicopters, is a Federal Register rule from Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration published 2026-07-30, effective 2026-09-03; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-08-06).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15370
- As of: 2026-08-06
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-15370
- Title: Airworthiness Directives; Leonardo S.p.a. Helicopters
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Transportation Department; Federal Aviation Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 47936
- Published: 2026-07-30
- Effective: 2026-09-03
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: 2120-AA64
- Last updated: 2026-08-06

## In one line

Fancy Helicopters Get Duct-Tape Inspection Mandate from FAA

## Summary

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Leonardo S.p.a. Model AW189 helicopters. This AD was prompted by reports of cracking on the ejector ducts. This AD requires 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 issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

## Effects PRIA read

- Mandatory Inspections and Replacements: cost, high. If you operate a Leonardo Model AW189 helicopter, you must repetitively inspect the left-hand and right-hand ejector ducts (P/N 8G7810P00131 and P/N 8G7810P00231), including the exhaust bracket reinforcements and reinforcement plates, as required by EASA AD 2025-0064, beginning under this FAA AD ef…
- Estimated Inspection Cost Per Aircraft: cost, medium. The FAA estimates each visual inspection of an ejector duct will take 2 work-hours at $85 per hour, costing $170 per inspection and $680 total for the four U.S.-registered AW189 helicopters the FAA estimates are affected. The AD also notes the FAA cannot predict how many helicopters will require re…
- Replacement Parts Cost If Needed: cost, high. If an ejector duct must be replaced, the FAA estimates the on-condition cost is 2 work-hours at $85 per hour plus parts costing $32,007, for a total of $32,177 per replaced ejector duct. The FAA states it cannot predict how many helicopters will need such replacements.
- Shorter Deadlines for Specific Serial Numbers: cost, medium. Helicopters with manufacturer serial numbers 49018, 49019, 49025, or 49028 are subject to shorter compliance times due to a higher likelihood of cracking, per the MCAI referenced in the AD. Owners/operators of those serial-numbered AW189s must follow the shorter compliance times specified.
- No FAA Reporting or Parts Return Required: benefit, low. Although EASA AD 2025-0064 would require reporting inspection results or returning parts, the FAA AD explicitly does not require reporting or returning parts. This removes those reporting/returns obligations for U.S. operators under this AD.

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## Sources
- [2026-15370 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/07/30/2026-15370/airworthiness-directives-leonardo-spa-helicopters)
- [2026-15370 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-07-30/pdf/2026-15370.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-15369, Airworthiness Directives; Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A. (Type Certificate Pre…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15369)
- [Next: 2026-15377, Air Plan Approval; California; San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15377)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15370 (as of 2026-08-06).