# 2026-16505: Airbus Copters Need Fan Leg Crack Inspections Now

2026-16505, Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters, is a Federal Register rule from Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration published 2026-08-13, effective 2026-09-17; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-08-20).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16505
- As of: 2026-08-20
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-16505
- Title: Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters
- Type: Rule
- Agencies: Transportation Department; Federal Aviation Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 52231
- Published: 2026-08-13
- Effective: 2026-09-17
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: 2120-AA64
- Last updated: 2026-08-20

## In one line

Airbus Copters Need Fan Leg Crack Inspections Now

## Summary

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Model AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, and AS355N helicopters. This AD was prompted by reports of cracks in the legs of the side supports of the tail rotor transmission fan. This AD requires repetitively inspecting the side supports of the tail rotor transmission fan for cracks and, depending on the results, replacing both side supports. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

## Effects PRIA read

- Mandatory repetitive inspections required: cost, medium. This rule applies to all Airbus Helicopters Models AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, and AS355N and requires repetitive inspections of the left- and right-hand side supports of the tail rotor transmission fan for cracks, and, if a crack is found, replacement of both side supports. The AD is effecti…
- Per-aircraft inspection and replacement costs: cost, high. The FAA estimates each inspection takes 1.5 work-hours at $85 per hour for a cost of $128 per helicopter. If replacement is required, replacing both side supports is estimated at 24 work-hours ($2,040 labor) plus $2,640 parts, totaling $4,680 per helicopter. The FAA estimates the AD affects 34 U.S.…
- Special flight permits disallowed: cost, low. The AD states that special flight permits under 14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199 are not allowed for these helicopters. Operators cannot rely on special flight permits to ferry an affected helicopter for compliance or repair under this AD.
- No reporting requirement to manufacturer: benefit, low. Unlike the corresponding EASA AD, this FAA AD does not require operators to report inspection results to the manufacturer. The AD explicitly states there is no reporting requirement.
- Small-entity economic impact estimate: cost, low. The FAA states the AD affects 25 entities (13 of which are small entities) and presents a high-case cost impact to those small entities. In the high-case scenario, the AD's cost is estimated to be no greater than 1.24 percent of a small entity's annual revenue, and the FAA certified the AD will not…

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## Sources
- [2026-16505 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/13/2026-16505/airworthiness-directives-airbus-helicopters)
- [2026-16505 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-08-13/pdf/2026-16505.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-16504, Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16504)
- [Next: 2026-16506, Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16506)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16505 (as of 2026-08-20).