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2026-01-08: Tail Rotor Drive

FAA order 2026-01-08 is an airworthiness directive in force since February 2, 2026. The FAA's subject line: Tail Rotor Drive. It names Airbus Helicopters EC 130 now H130: about 310 aircraft on the U.S. register today, though an order usually covers particular versions or serial numbers rather than every one. System: rotorcraft systems.

What it applies to as the FAA lists it

Kind of product
Aircraft
Makes
Airbus Helicopters
Models
EC130B4, EC130T2
On this site
Airbus Helicopters EC 130 now H130 310 registered

Dates and paperwork

In force since
February 2, 2026
Published
January 16, 2026 (signed January 12, 2026)
Docket
FAA-2026-0011
Replaces
2025-23-52
Status
Current
The FAA's document
Read the order on the FAA's site

The FAA's summary their words, unchanged

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2025-23- 52, which applied to all Airbus Helicopters Model EC130B4 and EC130T2 helicopters. AD 2025-23-52, required replacing the center shaft assembly with a serviceable center shaft assembly (either a shaft with another part number (P/N) or the same P/N with lower hours time-in- service (TIS)) and prohibited installing a center shaft assembly that is not a serviceable center shaft assembly on any helicopter. Since the FAA issued AD 2025-23-52, it was determined that for certain center shaft assemblies a repetitive inspection is adequate instead of replacement. This AD requires repetitively inspecting the center shaft assembly for cracks and replacing the center shaft assembly if it fails the inspection or exceeds a certain TIS. This AD also prohibits installing a center shaft assembly that is not a serviceable center shaft assembly on any helicopter. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The order itself the regulatory text, as published

Show the full text (5,045 characters)
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows: Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by: a. Removing Airworthiness Directive 2025-23-52, Amendment 39-23195 (90 FR 52555, November 21, 2025); and b. Adding the following new airworthiness directive: 2026-01-08 Airbus Helicopters: Amendment 39-23236; Docket No. FAA-2026-0011; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01758-R. (a) Effective Date This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective February 2, 2026. (b) Affected ADs This AD replaces AD 2025-23-52, Amendment 39-23195 (90 FR 52555, November 21, 2025) (AD 2025-23-52). (c) Applicability This AD applies to all Airbus Helicopters Model EC130B4 and EC130T2 helicopters, certificated in any category. (d) Subject Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 6510, Tail Rotor Drive. (e) Unsafe Condition This AD was prompted by a determination that the service life limit of the center shaft assembly needs to be corrected because a crack could initiate on the center shaft assembly. The FAA is issuing this AD to address cracking on a center shaft assembly. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in structural failure of the tail rotor drive shaft with consequent loss of control of a helicopter. (f) Compliance Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done. (g) Required Actions Except as specified in paragraphs (h) and (i) of this AD: Comply with all required actions and compliance times specified in, and in accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Emergency AD 2025-0262-E, dated November 25, 2025 (EASA Emergency AD 2025-0262-E). (h) Exceptions to EASA Emergency AD 2025-0262-E (1) Where EASA Emergency AD 2025-0262-E refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD. (2) Where EASA Emergency AD 2025-0262-E refers to November 11, 2025 (the effective date of EASA Emergency AD 2025-0249-E), this AD requires using December 8, 2025 (the effective date of AD 2025-23-52). (3) Where EASA Emergency AD 2025-0262-E requires compliance in terms of flight hours, this AD requires using hours time-in-service. (4) Where the material referenced in EASA Emergency AD 2025-0262-E specifies to make photos, this AD does not require that action. (5) This AD does not adopt the "Remarks" section of EASA Emergency AD 2025-0262-E. (i) No Reporting and Return of Parts Requirements Although the material referenced in EASA Emergency AD 2025-0262-E specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer and to return the parts to the manufacturer, this AD does not require those actions. (j) Special Flight Permits Special flight permits are prohibited. (k) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) (1) The Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of the International Validation Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (l) of this AD and email to: AMOC@faa.gov. (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding district office. (l) Additional Information For more information about this AD, contact George Weir Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (817) 222-4045; email: george.a.weir@faa.gov. (m) Material Incorporated by Reference (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of the material listed in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. (2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. (i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Emergency AD 2025-0262-E, dated November 25, 2025. (ii) [Reserved] (3) For EASA material identified in this AD, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 8999 000; email: ADs@easa.europa.eu; website: easa.europa.eu. You may find the EASA material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu. (4) You may view this material at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Room 6N-321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110. (5) You may view this material at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations or email fr.inspection@nara.gov . Issued on January 12, 2026. Steven W. Thompson, Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2026-00818 Filed 1-15-26; 8:45 am]BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

Related safety bulletins advice on the same designs, not orders

2019-07-15SW-17-23R2 · Fuel System
2018-03-02SW-17-23R1 · Fuel System
2015-08-13SW-15-20 · Air Conditioning System Wiring
2012-10-03SW-12-45 · Garmin Model 400W/500W Series GPS-WAAS Navigation System
2012-02-03SW-12-17 · Autopilot System

Source: FAA Dynamic Regulatory System, airworthiness directives. The FAA's document is the authority; the register counts are this site's, from the FAA register of October 7, 2026. Connections as data: /graph/directive/2026-01-08.json · aircraft systems.