<RULE>
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
<SUBAGY>Federal Aviation Administration</SUBAGY>
<CFR>14 CFR Part 39</CFR>
<DEPDOC>[Docket No. FAA-2026-0732; Project Identifier MCAI-2026-00008-R; Amendment 39-23249; AD 2026-01-51]</DEPDOC>
<RIN>RIN 2120-AA64</RIN>
<SUBJECT>Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters</SUBJECT>
<HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
<HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
Final rule; request for comments.
<SUM>
<HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Model H160-B helicopters. The FAA previously sent this AD as an emergency AD to all known U.S. owners and operators of these helicopters. This emergency AD was prompted by a report of the main rotor pitch rod rupturing during flight. This AD requires replacing the upper and lower pitch rod end bearings on the pitch rods of the main rotor with new pitch rod end bearings and reporting information after accomplishment of the replacement. This emergency AD also prohibits installing any affected main rotor lower and upper pitch rod end bearings on any helicopter, unless it is a serviceable part. The FAA is issuing this emergency AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
</SUM>
<EFFDATE>
<HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
This AD is effective February 17, 2026. Emergency AD 2026-01-51, issued on January 12, 2026, which contained the requirements of this amendment, was effective with actual notice.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain publication identified in this AD as of February 17, 2026.
The FAA must receive comments on this AD by March 19, 2026.
</EFFDATE>
<HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
•
<E T="03">Federal eRulemaking Portal:</E>
Go to
<E T="03">regulations.gov</E>
. Follow the instruct
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