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Airbus helicopter operators drop a repeating tail-rotor check
The FAA is superseding an older directive for AS350 and AS355 models. Crews still have to do the core nut, alignment and replacement checks that protect the tail-rotor system.
Operators of certain Airbus Helicopters AS350 and AS355 aircraft will no longer have to repeat one black-paint check on the tail-rotor head after July 21, 2026. The FAA is replacing an older safety order, but the core inspections that protect the tail-rotor system stay in place.
Submit comments: regulations.gov Effective date: July 21, 2026
What operators still have to do
The lighter workload does not erase the safety checks underneath it. The earlier directive also required inspection of the tail rotor head spider pitch change nut for correct installation, plus alignment checks and corrective actions when needed. Those core actions remain in place under the new rule.
The FAA also keeps the part-installation limits that were built into the earlier directive. For operators and maintenance crews, that means one less recurring paint-mark inspection to schedule, but continued attention to the tail-rotor parts that matter most to flight safety.
Why the rule changed
This kind of update is how aviation rules age in real life. When newer limits cover an older inspection, the FAA can retire the old repetition instead of making crews do the same check twice. The agency says the directive addresses an unsafe condition on the affected helicopters, including AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350D, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N and AS355NP models.
Agency: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT Docket ID: FAA-2025-5387 RIN: 2120-AA64 CFR parts: 14 CFR Part 39 Effective date: July 21, 2026 Submit comments: regulations.gov Contact: Matthew Williams • Aviation Safety Engineer • (316) 946-4134 • matthew.t.williams@faa.gov • 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590