AD 2026-04614

[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 46 (Tuesday, March 10, 2026)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 11446-11449] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2026-04614]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2026-2290; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-01833-R; Amendment 39-23282; AD 2026-05-09] RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Model AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N, and AS355NP helicopters. This AD was prompted by a report of a broken hose of the draining system in the rear cargo compartment due to hot air leakage from an engine combustion chamber drain valve failure. This AD requires for certain helicopters operational inspections (checks) of each engine drain valve, inspection of each affected rear cargo compartment hose (hose), installation and repetitive inspections of thermal papers, and depending on the results of those inspections, corrective actions. This AD also requires for certain helicopters, inspection of the rear cargo compartment hoses in conjunction with the initial operational inspections (checks) and, depending on the results of the inspections, performing corrective actions. Additionally, this AD prohibits installing an affected hose on any helicopter unless certain requirements are met. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective March 25, 2026. The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of March 25, 2026. The FAA must receive comments on this AD by April 24, 2026.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods: Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Fax: (202) 493-2251. Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2026-2290; 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 street address for Docket Operations is listed above.

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: [email protected]; website: easa.europa.eu. You may find the EASA material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu. 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,

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call (817) 222-5110. It is also available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2026-2290.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Evan Weaver, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (316) 944-8910; email: [email protected].