Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-23257 · Main rotor mast/swashplate
Airbus Helicopters
This AD applies to all Airbus Helicopters Model H160-B helicopters, certificated in any category.
The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2025-07- 06, which applied to all Airbus Helicopters Model H160-B helicopters. AD 2025-07-06 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 2025-07-06 a determination was made that repetitive inspections for axial play measurements on non-rotating scissors spherical bearings are necessary. This AD retains all of the actions required in AD 2025-07-06 and extends the definition of an affected part to include all serial numbered non-rotating scissors spherical bearings. This AD also prohibits installing affected rotating and non- rotating scissors spherical bearings unless certain requirements are met. 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 2025-0264, dated November 26, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0264).
(1) Where EASA AD 2025-0264 requires compliance in terms of flight hours, this AD requires using hours time-in-service.
(2) Where EASA AD 2025-0264 refers to its effective date, or January 21, 2025 (the effective date of EASA AD 2025-0018), this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(3) Where Table 3 in appendix 1 of EASA AD 2025-0264 refers to October 24, 2024 (the effective date of EASA AD 2024-0206-E), this AD requires using January 17, 2025 (the effective date of AD 2024-26-01).
(4) Where paragraph (7) of EASA AD 2025-0264 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 paragraphs (h)(4)(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.
(5) This AD does not adopt the “Remarks” section of EASA AD 2025-0264.
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.
