# 2026-16047: Helicopter Flange Fiasco: FAA Orders Urgent Checks

2026-16047, Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters, is a Federal Register rule from Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration published 2026-08-06, effective 2026-09-10; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-08-13).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16047
- As of: 2026-08-13
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-16047
- Title: Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Transportation Department; Federal Aviation Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 50691
- Published: 2026-08-06
- Effective: 2026-09-10
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: 2120-AA64
- Last updated: 2026-08-13

## In one line

Helicopter Flange Fiasco: FAA Orders Urgent Checks

## Summary

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350D, EC130B4, and EC130T2 helicopters. This AD was prompted by reports of an incorrectly installed engine flange on the main gear box (MGB) engine coupling. This AD requires inspecting the MGB engine coupling for correct installation and, depending on the results, corrective actions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

## Effects PRIA read

- Mandatory MGB Engine Coupling Inspection: cost, low. You must inspect the main gear box (MGB) engine coupling for correct installation on certain Airbus Helicopters by the AD effective September 10, 2026. The AD applies to Model AS350B/BA/B1/B2/B3 helicopters with manufacture date before May 15, 2023; Model AS350D with manufacture date before May 15,…
- Possible Engine Flange Replacement Cost: cost, high. If the inspection finds an inverted or incorrect engine flange, you may need corrective action to install a correctly assembled or new engine flange. The FAA estimates on-condition costs at 2 work-hours ($170) plus parts up to $1,935, for a total of up to $2,105 per helicopter for the corrective ac…

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## Sources
- [2026-16047 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/06/2026-16047/airworthiness-directives-airbus-helicopters)
- [2026-16047 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-08-06/pdf/2026-16047.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-16043, Airworthiness Directives; Bell Textron Canada Limited Helicopters](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16043)
- [Next: 2026-16049, Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16049)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16047 (as of 2026-08-13).