Airbus helicopters must check for tail rotor cracks, or replace the part
What happened
The US aviation regulator is ordering inspections for specific tail rotor blades on Airbus EC 130 B4 and EC 130 T2 helicopters. If cracks are found, the blades must be replaced with new ones.
Why it matters
This is a routine safety order. It means helicopter operators must spend money to inspect and potentially replace parts. The goal is to prevent a specific type of fatigue failure in the tail rotor.
The signal
Watch for any reports of tail rotor failures on these helicopter models after the compliance deadline, which would indicate the directive was insufficient.