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26.440 Fuel system crash resistance

ADDITIONAL AIRWORTHINESS SPECIFICATIONS FOR OPERATIONS · Regulation (EU) 2015/640 · EAR revision 20 Mar 2026

IRImplementing rule

26.440Fuel system crash resistance

Operators of small helicopters and large helicopters shall ensure that the likelihood of a post-crash fire is minimised as far as practicable in the design of the fuel system when:

(a)the helicopter type certificate was issued on or after 2 October 1994, and:

(1)the helicopter first individual certificate of airworthiness is issued on or after 22 December 2026, or

(2)the helicopter first individual certificate of airworthiness is issued before 22 December 2026, and:

(i)if any individual certificate of airworthiness is issued by a Member State on or after 22 December 2024 after an import of the helicopter from a non-Member State, or

(ii)if:

(A)the helicopter has been designed for six or more occupants, and is operated on or after 22 December 2031; or

(B)the helicopter has been designed for five or less occupants, and is operated on or after 22 December 2039.

(b)the helicopter type certificate was issued before 2 October 1994, and:

(1)the helicopter first individual certificate of airworthiness is issued on or after 22 December 2026 or,

(2)the helicopter first individual certificate of airworthiness is issued before 22 December 2026 and if any individual certificate of airworthiness is issued by a Member State on or after 22 December 2024 after an import of the helicopter from a non-Member State.

IR · 26.440 — Regulation (EU) 2015/640 · Regulation (EU) 2024/2954 · Part-26 Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 20 Mar 2026

GMGuidance material

GM1 26.440(a)(2)(iii)Fuel system crash resistance

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Where practicable, installations that use a fuel line slack or stretch as an equivalent means should be able to elongate enough to accommodate any probable relative motion between the ends of the line during an accident. 20–30 % of the line length may be used as a guideline in lieu of a more rational analysis.

[Issue: 26/5]

GM · GM1 26.440(a)(2)(iii) — Regulation (EU) 2015/640 · ED Decision 2024/010/R · Part-26 Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 20 Mar 2026

GMGuidance material

GM1 26.440(a)(4)Fuel system crash resistance

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CS 26.440(a)(4) only applies to rigid or semi-rigid fuel tank or bladder walls; hence, flexible liners are not required to comply with that requirement.

[Issue: 26/5]

GM · GM1 26.440(a)(4) — Regulation (EU) 2015/640 · ED Decision 2024/010/R · Part-26 Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 20 Mar 2026

All rules in SUBPART C — HELICOPTERS

Consolidated from the EASA Easy Access Rules (revision 20 Mar 2026, extracted 17 Aug 2026) for convenience. Not the official publication — verify against the Official Journal of the European Union and the EASA publications before operational use.

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