AS355 helicopter operators face a July 21 maintenance deadline

The FAA has issued a final rule superseding Airworthiness Directive 2022-19-13 for a specific Airbus Helicopters fleet. The rule covers Model AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N and AS355NP helicopters, and it takes effect July 21, 2026.

What operators have to revise

The agency said it determined that new, more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary to address an unsafe condition on the affected helicopters. That means operators must revise the airworthiness limitations section, or ALS, of the existing maintenance manual or instructions for continued airworthiness, or ICAs, and update the approved maintenance or inspection program when applicable.

A narrow fleet, a firm deadline

This is not a broad Airbus overhaul. It applies only to the listed AS355 models, and by the compliance date, maintenance crews and fleet managers will need the revised limits in place to stay aligned with FAA requirements under 14 CFR Part 39.