Airbus helicopters must get their tail rotors checked for cracks
What happened
The US aviation regulator is ordering inspections for specific Airbus helicopters. This means operators must check the tail rotor assembly for cracks or corrosion and replace parts if needed.
Why it matters
A helicopter losing tail rotor control in flight is a serious problem. This rule means that a known failure point in these specific Airbus models must now be regularly inspected. It shifts the burden of finding these defects from accident investigators to maintenance crews.
The signal
Watch for reports of these specific helicopter models being grounded for repairs, or for any further incidents related to tail rotor failure.