Aircraft
Certification Service Washington, DC U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration
SW-10-15 R1
August 5, 2010
This is information only. Recommendations
aren’t mandatory.
Introduction
This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) advises you,
owners, operators, and modifiers of Bell Helicopter, Textron Inc.
(Bell) Model 429 helicopters that SAIB No. SW-10-15 is revised. At this
time, the airworthiness concern is not an unsafe condition that would
warrant airworthiness directive (AD) action under Title 14 of the Code
of Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR) part 39.
Background
SAIB No. SW-10-15 was issued February 5, 2010 to owners, operators, and
modifiers of the Bell Model 429 helicopter to advise them that any
modification to incorporate the clam shell doors as passenger exits
would need additional FAA evaluation and approval as the clam shell
doors at initial type certification were not approved as passenger
exits but were approved as baggage access doors only.
Since that time, Bell Helicopter has successfully demonstrated that
this baggage area access can be used for loading and unloading of cargo
or occupants safely.
Recommendations
For Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) applications for modification
of the Bell 429 passenger configuration to an Emergency Medical Service
(EMS) configuration that incorporates the baggage area and usage of the
clam shell doors for loading and unloading occupants, safety of loading
occupants through the rear access area has been successfully
demonstrated and no further showing is required by the STC applicant.
However, we recommend that STC applicants discuss these EMS
modifications with their Aircraft Certification Office representative
prior to formal submittal of the STC application in order to know the
appropriate certification requirements and data needed for
substantiation.