# 2026-19343: FAA Orders Chopper Owners to Revise Safety Playbooks

2026-19343, Airworthiness Directives; Leonardo S.p.a. Helicopters, is a Federal Register proposed rule from Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration published 2026-09-22, effective The FAA must receive comments on this NPRM by November 6, 2026.; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-29).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19343
- As of: 2026-09-29
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-19343
- Title: Airworthiness Directives; Leonardo S.p.a. Helicopters
- Type: Proposed Rule
- Agencies: Transportation Department; Federal Aviation Administration
- Citation: 91 FR 60028
- Published: 2026-09-22
- Effective: The FAA must receive comments on this NPRM by November 6, 2026.
- Comments close: 2026-11-06
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: 2120-AA64
- Last updated: 2026-09-29

## In one line

FAA Orders Chopper Owners to Revise Safety Playbooks

## Summary

If you own or maintain Leonardo AB139 or AW139 helicopters, the FAA wants you to update your maintenance rules with new safety limits to keep flying safe. This replaces an older rule and means you’ll need to revise your maintenance manuals soon. Comments on this change are open until November 6, 2026, so get ready to act and keep those choppers in top shape!

## Abstract

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-02-12, which applies to all Leonardo S.p.a. Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters. AD 2022-02-12 requires incorporating airworthiness limitations into maintenance records. Since the FAA issued AD 2022-02- 12, it was determined that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations were necessary. This proposed AD would require revising the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the existing maintenance manual or instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA) and the existing approved maintenance or inspection program, as applicable. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

## Effects PRIA read

- Revise Maintenance Limits Within 30 Days: cost, low. If you own or maintain Leonardo Model AB139 or AW139 helicopters, you must update the airworthiness limitations section of your maintenance manual and approved maintenance/inspection program to incorporate AW139 39-B-AMPI-00-P, Chapter 04, Airworthiness Limitations, Issue 015, dated January 07, 202…
- No Alternative Maintenance Without Approval: cost, low. After you incorporate the new airworthiness limitations, you cannot use alternative maintenance actions, thresholds, intervals, or life limits unless approved by the Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA; or by EASA; or by Leonardo S.p.a. EASA Design Organization Approval (DOA). If approved…

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## Sources
- [2026-19343 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/09/22/2026-19343/airworthiness-directives-leonardo-spa-helicopters)
- [2026-19343 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-09-22/pdf/2026-19343.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-19341, Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of America, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Groupe…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19341)
- [Next: 2026-19345, Airworthiness Directives; Bell Textron Canada Limited Helicopters](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19345)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19343 (as of 2026-09-29).