# 2026-16412: Fly-by-wire retrofit gets FAA thumbs-up for quirky R66 helicopter

2026-16412, Special Conditions: Skyryse, Robinson Helicopter Company Model R66 Helicopter; Flight Control System Annunciation of Control, is a Federal Register rule from Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration published 2026-08-12, effective 2026-09-11 (as of 2026-08-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16412
- As of: 2026-08-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-16412
- Title: Special Conditions: Skyryse, Robinson Helicopter Company Model R66 Helicopter; Flight Control System Annunciation of Control
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Transportation Department; Federal Aviation Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 52002
- Published: 2026-08-12
- Effective: 2026-09-11
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-08-19

## In one line

Fly-by-wire retrofit gets FAA thumbs-up for quirky R66 helicopter

## Summary

These special conditions are issued for the Robinson Helicopter Company (Robinson) Model R66 helicopter. This helicopter, as modified by Skyryse, will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for normal category helicopters. This design feature replaces the mechanical flight controls with a digital fly-by-wire (FBW) system. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

## Effects PRIA read

No economic effects identified for this document.

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## Sources
- [2026-16412 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/12/2026-16412/special-conditions-skyryse-robinson-helicopter-company-model-r66-helicopter-flight-control-system)
- [2026-16412 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-08-12/pdf/2026-16412.pdf)

## Related
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- [Next: 2026-16413, Schedules of Controlled Substances: Temporary Placement of O-Desmethyltramadol…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16413)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16412 (as of 2026-08-19).