Federal Register #FAA-2026-11808

FAA proposes revised airworthiness requirements for Leonardo AW169 helicopters

The Federal Aviation Administration proposes revised airworthiness requirements for Leonardo AW169 helicopters, rather than announcing a purchase.\n- Government buyer: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); no specific office is identified.\n- OEM: Leonardo S.p.a., manufacturer of the affected Model AW169 helicopters.\n- Affected fleet: all Model AW169 helicopters; the FAA estimates 18 U.S.-registered helicopters are affected. This is an estimate of aircraft affected, not a purchase quantity.\n- Required action: within 30 days after the proposed directive takes effect, operators must revise the aircraft airworthiness limitations and applicable approved maintenance or inspection program.\n - Use Leonardo AW169 AMPI Chapter 4, Issue 6, Document No. 169F0255A075, Issue A.\n - The change corrects the prior directive’s reference to material that was not FAA-approved and addresses risks of fatigue cracking, damage, and corrosion in principal structural elements.\n- The FAA estimates the required action at $85 per helicopter; this is not a contract value. No products are being procured.

Description

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive 2024-05-06, which applies to all Leonardo S.p.a. Model AW169 helicopters. The existing directive requires revisions to the airworthiness limitations section of the maintenance manual or instructions for continued airworthiness, and to the approved maintenance or inspection program. The FAA determined that the earlier directive referenced incorrect material that was not FAA-approved. The proposed rule would require revising those materials using the correct FAA-approved airworthiness limitations document to address the unsafe condition.

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