Aircraft
Certification Service Washington, DC U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration
SW-09-26
May 7, 2009
This is information only. Recommendations
aren’t mandatory.
Introduction
This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) is for
owners or operators of Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH (ECD) Model EC 135
helicopters equipped with an emergency flotation system. This SAIB is
issued to remind you to follow the procedures in the applicable Flight
Manual Supplement when the (optional) emergency flotation system is set
to ARMED. These procedures should be followed to avoid unintentional
release of the system during flight. This is for information purposes
only and recommendations for corrective action are not mandatory.
Background
There has been a reported incident in flight, under an altitude of
300 feet and a speed of 70 knots, where the pilot armed the “EMER
FLOAT” switch. A loud noise was heard and the floats inflated within
two seconds.
Recommendations
ECD has issued Alert Service Information (ASI) EC135-A108 Revision
01 dated April 21, 2009. This ASI reiterates that when the emergency
flotation system is installed and operative with the EMER FLOAT switch
set to position “ARM”, a maximum airspeed of 80 knots must not be
exceeded in accordance with the EC 135 Flight Manual Supplement FMS
9.2-67. The ASI also states that incorrect securing of switch “FILL
FLOATS” and its protective cap at the collective lever on the ground
might, under unfavorable circumstances, cause an unintentional release
of the emergency floatation system during flight.