Helicopter Louver Box Might Fly Off—Check It Now!
Published Date: 10/9/2026
Rule
Summary
If you own or fly an Airbus Helicopters Deutschland MBB-BK 117 C-1, listen up! The FAA found a problem where a part called the louver box assembly might come loose during flight because it was installed wrong. Starting October 26, 2026, pilots and maintenance crews must regularly check this part and fix any issues to keep flights safe. This might mean some extra work and costs, but safety always comes first!
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Corrective actions required if looseness found
If any play is found during the required check, you must accomplish corrective actions before further flight using a method approved by the Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA; or EASA; or AHD's EASA Design Organization Approval (DOA) (DOA approvals must include the DOA-authorized signature). The FAA states corrective-action costs could vary significantly and it was unable to obtain cost estimates.
Daily preflight check required for louver box
If you operate an Airbus Helicopters Deutschland MBB-BK 117 C-1, starting October 26, 2026 you must perform a play check of the vapor cycle air cooling system louver box assembly (part number 117-820014) before the first flight of each day by pulling it upward by hand on all four corners. The FAA estimates each check takes 1 work-hour at $85, which is $85 per check and $765 total per check for the nine U.S.-registered helicopters the FAA estimates are affected.
Pilots may perform and log the play check
The owner/operator (pilot) holding at least a private pilot certificate may perform the required play check by hand and must record compliance in the helicopter maintenance records in accordance with 14 CFR 43.9(a) and 91.417(a)(2)(v). This permission is an explicit exception to the FAA's usual maintenance rules.
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