Aircraft
Certification Service Washington, DC U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration
SW-07-13
December 11, 2006
This is information only. Recommendations
aren’t mandatory.
Introduction
This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) alerts you,
owners and operators of Airbus Model A300 Series Aircraft; Dassault
Aviation Models Mystere-Falcon 20, Mystere-Falcon 50, Falcon 200 and
Falcon 900 Aircraft; Pilatus Aircraft, Model PC-6 Aircraft, and
Eurocopter Models AS 350 B3 and SA 315 B Helicopters equipped with
optional oxygen reserve cylinders of EASA- issued Emergency
Airworthiness Directive No. 2006-0286-E, dated September 21, 2006. This
SAIB applies to Oxygen Reserve Cylinder having part numbers (PN) GLD
series, GLF series, PC2300 and SLF 300.
Background
The manufacturer of the Oxygen cylinders INTERTECHNIQUE, Zodiac
Aircraft Systems has informed EASA and Eurocopter that there is a risk
of high-pressure oxygen cylinder tearing with sudden emptying. These
oxygen reserve cylinders are used for missions at high altitudes or to
ensure respiratory aid for passengers feeling sick. The material
characteristics of the Aluminum Alloy 5283 alloy from which the
cylinder shells are manufactured may deteriorate in the course of time
and may possibly lead these oxygen cylinders to tear and abruptly vent
onboard an aircraft.
Recommendations
The INTERTECHNIQUE, Zodiac Aircraft Systems has issued service bulletin GLD/GLF-35-150, dated September 20, 2006.
Eurocopter has issued Emergency Alert Service Bulletins (EASB) 05.00.54
and 05.42 dated August 16, 2006. This EASB applies to Eurocopter
Helicopter Models AS 350B3 and SA 315 B equipped with oxygen cylinders,
P/N GLF 311-1, GLF312, GLF 313, GLF 316, GLF 514 or GLD511.
The Service Bulletin and the EASB should be followed to prevent rupture
of the oxygen cylinders and gives information on how to identify the
date of manufacture of the cylinder shell and instructions for removal
and emptying the cylinders. Cylinder shells manufactured more than 25
years ago and installed on aircraft operating in normal climatic
conditions, and cylinders manufactured more that 15 year ago and
installed on aircraft operating in salt-laden atmospheric conditions
(offshore operations) should be removed and emptied according to the
EASB.
For Service Bulletin and Technical Information Contact
Intertechnique, Zodiac Aircraft Systems, 61 rue Pierre Curie BP1,
78373 Plaisir Cedex France; Tel +33 (0)1-3054-8200 or email:
apyrault@intertechnique.zodia.com
For EASB contact American Eurocopter, Technical Support 1-800-232-0323 or http://www.eurocopterusa.com/ Support
For Further Information Contact
Mr. Uday Garadi, Aerospace Engineer, FAA Rotorcraft Directorate,
ASW-111, Fort Worth, TX-76193, email: uday.garadi@faa.gov. phone: (817)
222-5123; fax: (817) 222-5961.