AD 2025-17-02

This AD is effective September 26, 2025.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of September 26, 2025.

AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2025-0615; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this final rule, the mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The address for Docket Operations is U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.

Material Incorporated by Reference:

• For European Union Aviation Safety Agency (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.

• For Safran Aerosystems material identified in this AD, contact Safran Aerosystems, Floats & Rafts, 58 rue de Segonzac—B.P. 81, 16103 Cognac Cedex, France; phone: +33 5 45 83 20 20; email: technical.retrofit.sao@safrangroup.com; website: www.safran-aerosystems.com/customers.

• 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. The EASA material is also available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2025-0615.

Alexis Whitaker, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (516) 228-7309; email: alexis.j.whitaker@faa.gov.

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to all Airbus Helicopters Model EC120B, EC 130 B4, and EC 130 T2 helicopters. The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on April 15, 2025 (90 FR 15659). The NPRM was prompted by EASA AD 2023-0166, dated August 25, 2023 (EASA AD 2023-0166) (also referred to as the MCAI), issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union. The MCAI advises of a report that, during a maintenance check of a helicopter, it was discovered that a retaining ring was missing from the connection between the supply hose and the central supply coupling of an EFS inflation assembly. The MCAI states that the unsafe condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to inflation of the EFS on only one side of the helicopter after ditching, which could result in immediate capsizing of the helicopter, possibly preventing the evacuation of occupants. In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require inspecting for the presence of the retaining ring in an EFS with certain inflation assemblies installed and, depending on the results, taking corrective action. The NPRM also proposed to prohibit installing an EFS with those inflation assemblies installed. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA received comments from three commenters. Commenters included two individuals and Air Evac Lifeteam. The two individuals supported the NPRM without change. The following presents the comment received from Air Evac Lifeteam on the NPRM and the FAA's response to this comment.

Air Evac Lifeteam stated that there is not a specified compliance path for any aircraft that does not have an EFS inflation system installed. The commenter suggested adding a compliance statement (requirement) to verify that an affected part is installed. The commenter added that if the affected part is not installed, then no further action would be required.

The FAA disagrees with the commenter's request to revise the compliance requirements. As stated in the MCAI, which is incorporated by reference in this AD, “Group 2 helicopters are those that do not have an affected part installed.” Operators are responsible for reviewing their aircraft records to determine whether their helicopters are classified under Group 2. If so, no further action is required beyond maintaining standard documentation in accordance with their approved procedures and ensuring that an EFS with those inflation assemblies installed is not installed on a Group 2 helicopter. Therefore, an additional compliance statement is unnecessary, as the existing language in the MCAI already defines the applicability of the AD based on the presence or absence of the affected part. The FAA has not changed this AD in this regard.

These products have been approved by the civil aviation authority of another country and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, that authority has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI referenced above. The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered any comments received, and determined that air safety requires adopting this AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. Except for minor editorial changes, this AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM. None of the changes will increase the economic burden on any operator.

In the NPRM, the FAA designated paragraph (g) as “Clarification of Required Material.” This final rule redesignates paragraph (g) of this AD as “Required Actions” and moves the clarification of required material to paragraph (h)(2) of this AD. The FAA redesignated paragraph (g) to (h)(2) to further clarify that operators must use Safran Aerosystems Service Bulletin 025-69-42, Revision 00, dated June 13, 2023, where EASA AD 2023-0166 refers to “the Vendor SB.”

The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2023-0166, which specifies procedures for inspecting the connection between the supply hose and the central supply coupling for the presence of the retaining ring in the EFS with certain inflation assemblies installed and, depending on the results, corrective action, which includes either sending the EFS to Safran Aerosystems or a Safran-approved repair center or installing a retaining ring. EASA AD 2023-0166 also prohibits installing an EFS with those inflation assemblies installed on any helicopter.

The FAA also reviewed Safran Aerosystems Service Bulletin 025-69-42, Revision 00, dated June 13, 2023, which specifies procedures for inspecting the connection between the supply hose and the central supply coupling for the presence of the retaining ring in the EFS with certain inflation assemblies installed. If the retaining ring is present, this material specifies procedures for wrapping the supply hose connection with new adhesive tape. If the retaining ring is not present, this material specifies procedures for installing a retaining ring.

This material is reasonably available because the interested parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.

The MCAI applies to Airbus Helicopters Model EC 175 B helicopters, whereas this AD does not because that model does not have an FAA type certificate.

The FAA estimates that this AD affects 359 helicopters of U.S. registry.

The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD.

The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary replacements that would be required based on the results of the required inspection. The agency has no way of determining the number of helicopters that might need this replacement:

The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate. According to the manufacturer, however, some of the costs of this AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected operators.

Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII: Aviation Programs, describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.

The FAA is issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: General requirements. Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this rulemaking action.

This AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD will not have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government.

For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:

(1) Is not a “significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866,

(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and

(3) Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive: