Why did the FAA issue an emergency directive for the Airbus H160-B helicopter?

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Model H160-B aircraft. This urgent regulatory action was prompted by a report of a main rotor pitch rod rupturing during flight. The agency determined this condition, if not corrected, could result in a catastrophic loss of helicopter control.

The Unsafe Condition and Required Action

The FAA’s Emergency AD 2026-01-51, initially issued on January 12, 2026, addresses a critical component failure. The problem centers on the main rotor pitch rod end bearings. Specifically, the directive mandates the replacement of the upper and lower pitch rod end bearings on the main rotor pitch rods with new, serviceable parts. This is considered an interim action while the root cause is investigated.

The pitch rods are vital to the helicopter’s flight control system. They transmit pilot inputs from the swashplate to the main rotor blades. A failure here directly compromises the ability to control the aircraft's attitude and lift.

International Regulatory Response

The FAA action mirrors a directive from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). EASA, the primary certifying authority for the H160, issued Emergency AD 2026-0001-E on January 8, 2026. This was the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information (MCAI) that triggered the FAA’s response.

Airbus Helicopters also proactively released an Emergency Alert Service Bulletin (EASB). This was done to provide immediate instructions to operators globally. The EASB and EASA AD required replacement of the affected main rotor pitch rod ends after a certain number of flight hours, notably after 165 flight hours as an interim precautionary measure.

Prompting Incident: H160 Ditching

The regulatory urgency stems from an incident involving an H160 helicopter operated by Omni. The aircraft ditched off the coast of Brazil on January 2, 2026. The pilots reported experiencing significant, high-amplitude vibrations during the cruise portion of the flight. This made it extremely difficult to control the helicopter.

• Incident Date: January 2, 2026
• Location: Off the coast of Brazil
• Outcome: The pilots performed a controlled water landing, and all eight occupants were safely rescued.

Subsequent examination of the recovered Airbus Helicopters H160-B revealed damage to the main rotor system. Investigators confirmed the rupture of a main rotor pitch rod. Brazilian investigation authority CENIPA noted that the time between the incident onset and the water landing was only 1 minute and 30 seconds. Initial findings point toward a potential fatigue failure of the upper rod end bearing.

Compliance and Industry Impact

The FAA's final rule AD is effective February 17, 2026. Operators of the Airbus Helicopters Model H160-B must comply with the replacement requirements. This includes all known U.S. owners and operators of the helicopter.

• Mandatory Action: Replace upper and lower pitch rod end bearings.
• Prohibition: Installing any affected, unserviceable pitch rod end bearings is prohibited.
• Stakeholder Impact: Operators face immediate maintenance scheduling and parts logistics challenges. This ensures the continued airworthiness and safety of the H160 fleet.

Airbus Helicopters stated that safety is paramount and is supporting customers with the component replacement. The ongoing investigation by Brazilian and French authorities will determine the definitive root cause. This will inform any potential long-term design or maintenance changes for the H160 fleet.

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