The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a new safety directive for Airbus Helicopters models SA341G and SA342J, requiring regular inspections and potential replacements of certain drive shafts due to corrosion concerns. This directive aims to prevent the failure of tail rotor drives that could lead to helicopter control loss. The directive, coming into effect on June 6, 2025, aligns with European safety actions but does not require certain reporting to manufacturers. The directive estimates costs for compliance, including inspection and part replacement, for helicopters registered in the U.S.
Simple Explanation
The FAA is telling helicopter owners to check some parts on their helicopters to make sure they aren't rusty, because if the parts are too rusty, the helicopter could stop working properly and that might be dangerous.