Airbus H160-B helicopters must now get regular swashplate bearing inspections

The US aviation regulator now requires new inspections for a specific helicopter model. This means operators must check a critical part for grease and wear, and replace it if needed, to prevent failures.

A small part failing on a helicopter can have catastrophic consequences. This new rule means that every operator of this specific Airbus model must now perform regular, detailed checks on a part that has shown premature wear. This shifts the burden of detecting a potential failure from accident investigation to routine maintenance, making the operator directly responsible for preventing it.