Aviation News – Airbus Helicopters has issued an emergency safety bulletin after an H160 helicopter made a controlled ditching during a flight off Brazil, with all eight occupants rescued safely. The incident highlights precautionary action taken while investigators examine damage to critical rotor components.
The event occurred on January 2, 2026, during a cruise flight when pilots experienced significant vibrations and elected to ditch the aircraft at sea. The helicopter’s emergency flotation system deployed as designed, allowing passengers and crew to evacuate into life rafts before being recovered without injuries. Brazil’s accident investigation authority CENIPA is leading the inquiry, supported by France’s BEA, in line with ICAO Annex 13 procedures.
Initial findings following the recovery of the helicopter revealed damage to the tail rotor drive line and the main rotor system, including the rupture of a main rotor pitch rod. Although the investigation is ongoing and no conclusions have been reached, Airbus Helicopters opted to take immediate preventive action to mitigate potential fleet-wide risk.
The main rotor pitch rod plays a critical role in controlling blade angle and flight stability, with its rod ends and associated bolt assemblies subjected to high loads throughout operation. As a result, Airbus has released an Emergency Alert Service Bulletin requiring operators to replace pitch rod ends after a defined number of flight hours, aiming to reduce the risk of vibration-related failures and ensure continued airworthiness.
