Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Model H160-B helicopters. This AD was prompted by reports of a fully discharged personal locator beacon (PLB) battery installed on an emergency life-raft system (ELRS), as well as a report where the ropes connecting the two ELRS to the PLB were not correctly attached. This AD requires performing a functional test of the PLB and inspecting the rope connection to the ELRS. Depending on the results of the functional test, this AD requires performing the functional test again or replacing affected parts, and depending on the results of the rope inspection, correctly attaching the wrist strap of the PLB to the ELRS rope. This AD also prohibits the installation of a certain part- numbered PLB and the rope connection to the ELRS, unless certain requirements are met. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39 [Docket No. FAA-2026-1337; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01289-R; Amendment 39-23363; AD 2026-11-02] RIN 2120-AA64 AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Model H160-B helicopters. This AD was prompted by reports of a fully discharged personal locator beacon (PLB) battery installed on an emergency life-raft system (ELRS), as well as a report where the ropes connecting the two ELRS to the PLB were not correctly attached. This AD requires performing a functional test of the PLB and inspecting the rope connection to the ELRS. Depending on the results of the functional test, this AD requires performing the functional test again or replacing affected parts, and depending on the results of the rope inspection, correctly attaching the wrist strap of the PLB to the ELRS rope. This AD also prohibits the installation of a certain part-numbered PLB and the rope connection to the ELRS, unless certain requirements are met. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. DATES: This AD is effective July 9, 2026. The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of July 9, 2026. ADDRESSES: AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2026-1337; or in person at…
Other Federal Register documents from the same docket.
Citation: 91 FR 33600
