Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-23008 · Main rotor mast/swashplate
Airbus Helicopters
Superseded. A later AD replaced this one: AD 2026-03-08. Comply with the one in force.
This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters Model H160-B helicopters, certificated in any category.
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2024-26- 01, which applied to all Airbus Helicopters Model H160-B helicopters. AD 2024-26-01 required measuring the axial play of the rotating scissors spherical bearings, and depending on the results, accomplishing corrective action and reporting inspection results. Since the FAA issued AD 2024-26-01, Airbus Helicopters issued revised material to extend the applicability to all rotating scissors spherical bearing serial numbers, change the initial compliance time, establish repetitive inspections, and extend the reporting requirements. This AD was prompted by a determination that the initial compliance time and reporting requirement needed to be modified and repetitive inspections for certain axial play measurements added. This AD retains the actions required in AD 2024-26-01, revises the initial compliance time, extends the definition of an affected part to all serial numbered rotating scissors spherical bearings, extends the reporting requirements, and requires repetitive inspections. This AD also prohibits installing an affected rotating scissors spherical bearing unless certain requirements are met. These actions are specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this AD: Comply with all required actions and compliance times specified in, and in accordance with European Union Aviation Safety Agency AD 2025-0040, dated February 14, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0040).
(1) Where EASA AD 2025-0040 requires compliance in terms of flight hours, this AD requires using hours time-in-service.
(2) Where EASA AD 2025-0040 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(3) Where EASA AD 2025-0040 refers to January 21, 2025 (the effective date of EASA AD 2025-0018, dated January 14, 2025), this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(4) Where Table 3 in appendix 1 of EASA AD 2025-0040 refers to October 24, 2024 (the effective date of EASA AD 2024-0206-E, dated October 22, 2024), this AD requires using January 17, 2025 (the effective date of AD 2024-26-01).
(5) Where paragraph (7) of EASA AD 2025-0040 specifies to report inspection results to AH [Airbus Helicopters] within certain compliance times, for this AD, report inspection results at the applicable times specified in paragraph (h)(5)(i) or (ii) of this AD.
(i) For an inspection done on or after the effective date of this AD: Submit the report within 7 days after the inspection.
(ii) For an inspection done before the effective date of this AD: Submit the report within 7 days after the effective date of this AD.
(6) This AD does not adopt the “Remarks” section of EASA AD 2025-0040.
The aircraft, engines and makers this AD names, by the model designations in its text. A model listed here may still be outside the AD's serial ranges.
