Federal Register #2026-21856

FAA safety directives for Airbus helicopter cargo-release controls and Boeing 737 fuel-valve access panels

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued aviation safety directives covering Airbus helicopters and certain Boeing 737 aircraft. - Government buyer and issuing office: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). - OEMs named: Airbus Helicopters and The Boeing Company. The FAA requirements for Airbus helicopters incorporate procedures from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), with FAA-specific exceptions. - Airbus Helicopters models covered: AS350B2, AS350B3, AS355N, AS355NP, and EC130B4. The directive requires inspection of the cargo load-dropping control system and manual-release lever, followed by applicable adjustment, inspection, or replacement actions. The initial inspection is due within 50 sling cycles or 30 days after the directive’s effective date, whichever comes first; recurring inspection intervals follow the incorporated EASA directive. - The attachment also begins a separate FAA directive for certain Boeing 737-700, 737-700C, 737-800, and 737-900ER aircraft. It describes inspection of engine fuel shutoff valve access-panel gasket sealant, leak testing, and applicable corrective actions; the provided excerpt does not include complete compliance details. - These are regulatory safety requirements, not a request to purchase aircraft, products, or services.

Description

The FAA is adopting an airworthiness directive for all Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B2, AS350B3, AS355N, AS355NP, and EC130B4 helicopters. It follows a report that a cargo-hook load was released without the pilot manually initiating release. The directive requires inspection of the load-dropping control system and the manual release lever for free play, with corrective actions depending on inspection results. It is intended to prevent unintended in-flight loss of cargo that could injure people on the ground.

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