Emergency AD on Leonardo AW169 and Sikorsky S-76D
Directive: CF-2026-23-E (Emergency Airworthiness Directive)
Authority: Transport Canada | Issue date: 29 May 2026 | Effective: 1 June 2026
Applicability: Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210A, PW210A1 and PW210S engines (all serial numbers)
Aircraft affected: Leonardo AW169; Sikorsky S-76D.
Unsafe condition
- Circumferential cracking of the Turbine Exhaust Frame (TEF)
- Associated with sub-minimum wall thickness and thermal stress from repeated engine starts
Risk
Crack growth may lead to loss of axial containment and release of engine components, potentially damaging the helicopter.
Inspection requirements (GVI)
- General Visual Inspection (GVI), non-intrusive, engine installed.
- Initial:
- 3e= 7,000 cycles since new: within 5 flight hours or 20 engine starts
- 3e= 2,000 flight hours and 3c 7,000 cycles: within 50 flight hours or 200 engine starts
- Outcomes and actions:
- No cracks: repeat GVI within 200 engine starts
- Cracks with cumulative length 3c 9.5 in: repeat GVI within 20 engine starts
- Length 3e= 9.5 in: replace TEF before further flight
Regulatory status
Interim action subject to revision as additional in-service data becomes available.
Operational and economic considerations
- High-utilization operators (offshore, EMS, SAR) often prefer immediate replacement to preserve availability.
- Potential TEF shortages could increase reliance on repetitive inspections and maintenance workload.
- Impacts depend on crack prevalence, growth rates, and supply-chain capacity.
Conclusion: CF-2026-23-E establishes a temporary, cycle-based monitoring framework to manage PW210 TEF cracking, with a 9.5-inch threshold and repetitive inspections.
