---
title: "26.431 Determination of the robustness of emergency flotation system designs — ADDITIONAL AIRWORTHINESS SPECIFICATIONS FOR OPERATIONS, Part-26 · Avioverse"
description: "An operator of a small helicopter or a large helicopter that is required, in accordance with point CAT.IDE.H.320(a) of Annex IV to Regulation (EU) No…"
url: "https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/additional-airworthiness/additional-airworthiness-specifications-for/subpart-c/26-431"
---

# 26.431 Determination of the robustness of emergency flotation system designs

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

IR Implementing rule

## 26.431 Determination of the robustness of emergency flotation system designs

(a) An operator of a [small helicopter](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/small-helicopter) or a [large helicopter](https://avioverse.aero/glossary/easa/large-helicopter) that is required, in accordance with point CAT.IDE.H.320(a) of Annex IV to Regulation (EU) No 965/2012, to be designed for landing on water or certified for ditching, may request the person referred to in point (b) to provide the services referred to in point (c), where both the following conditions are met:

(1) the operator is required to demonstrate compliance with point 26.430 of this Annex;

(2) the robustness of the emergency flotation system in the event of water impact has not been demonstrated as part of the type certificate or supplemental type certificate of that helicopter.

(b) The person who shall provide the services referred to in point (c) are:

(1) the type certificate holder, if the emergency flotation system is included within the type design;

(2) the supplemental type certificate holder, if the emergency flotation system is certified through a supplemental type certificate.

(c) The person referred to in point (b) shall:

(1) determine that the effects on the successful deployment and retention of the emergency flotation system as a result of possible damage from a water impact are minimised, as far as practicable;

(2) determine that the effects referred to in point (c)(1) are taken into consideration in the design of the emergency flotation system;

(3) provide an assessment to the operator.

IR · 26.431 — Regulation (EU) 2015/640 · Regulation (EU) 2022/1254 · Part-26 Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 20 Mar 2026

GM Guidance material

## GM1 26.431 Determination of the robustness of emergency flotation system designs

The design changes that are identified after the evaluation are to be proposed to the Agency. Design changes that are not proposed for incorporation into the design are to be accompanied by a suitable justification for not doing so. The concepts contained in Appendix E to GM 21.A.101 ‘Procedure for evaluating material contribution to safety or impracticality of applying latest certification specifications to a changed product’ to Regulation (EU) 748/2012 Annex I (Part 21) may be used as a suitable methodology to determine those design changes that are not proposed for incorporation or alternatively other suitable criteria may be proposed to the Agency.

\[Issue: 26/4]

GM · GM1 26.431 — Regulation (EU) 2015/640 · ED Decision 2022/019/R · Part-26 Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 20 Mar 2026

[All rules in SUBPART C — HELICOPTERS](https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/additional-airworthiness/additional-airworthiness-specifications-for/subpart-c)

Consolidated from the EASA Easy Access Rules (revision 20 Mar 2026, extracted 13 Oct 2026) for convenience. Not the official publication — verify against the Official Journal of the European Union and the EASA publications before operational use.