Aircraft
Certification Service Washington, DC U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration
SW-17-23 R2
July 15, 2019
This is information only. Recommendations
aren’t mandatory.
Introduction
This revised Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) advises
registered owners and operators of certain Airbus Helicopters of
FAA-approved Supplemental Type Certificates (STC) that install
crash-resistant fuel systems that comply with the latest safety
standards. These helicopters and STCs are:
Model AS350B3 helicopters with an Arriel 2D engine (marketed as a Model AS350B3e helicopter) with STC SR03931NY, and
Model AS350D, AS350B,
AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350BA, AS350B3, and EC130B4 helicopters with Vector
Aerospace Helicopter Services USA, Inc. STC SR02492AK.
Installation of these STCs is not
required to correct an unsafe condition, but installation will reduce
the risk of post-crash fires and improve occupant survivability in an
accident.
Background
The FAA previously issued SAIB SW-17-23 on August 24, 2017. That SAIB
recommended that all owners and operators of Airbus Helicopters Model
AS350B3 helicopters with an Arriel 2D engine (marketed as a Model
AS350B3e helicopter) incorporate STC SR09391NY. After SAIB SW-17-23 was
issued, the FAA issued STC SR02492AK for additional helicopters models
and the SAIB was reissued as SW-17-23R1
On November 2, 1994 fuel system crash resistance became a regulatory
requirement in Section 27.952 of 14 CFR part 27. The regulation applied
only to newly type-certificated Part 27 rotorcraft, however, and the
Airbus Model AS350B3, AS350D, AS350B, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350BA,
AS350B3, and EC130B4 helicopters were not required to meet these
standards.
The design features of STCs SR03931NY and SR02492AK increase the level
of safety in the event of a survivable crash by either decreasing the
likelihood or delaying the onset of post-crash fire. The features
minimize crash-induced fuel leaks and their contact with potential fuel
ignition sources both during and after the crash, and increase the time
occupants have available to egress before a post-crash fire could
become critical.
The FAA and industry continue to cooperate to improve post-crash fire
protection. In November 2015, the FAA published a Notice in the Federal
Register tasking the aviation rulemaking advisory committee (ARAC) to
provide recommendations for improving occupant protection in
rotorcraft. The tasking included post-crash fire protection
improvements for both newly manufactured rotorcraft and the existing
fleet. In January 2017, the FAA tasked the ARAC with the next phase to
provide recommendations on implementing existing post-crash fire
protection standards on newly manufactured rotorcraft and on the
existing fleet of rotorcraft. The ARAC will provide their
recommendations for newly manufactured rotorcraft in January 2018. The
final ARAC report that includes recommendations for the existing
rotorcraft fleet was provided in late 2018.
Recommendations
The FAA recommends that all owners and operators of Airbus Helicopters
Model AS350B3 helicopters with an Arriel 2D engine incorporate STC
SR09391NY. We also recommend that all owners and operators of Airbus
Helicopters Models AS350D, AS350B, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350BA, AS350B3,
and EC130B4 incorporate STC SR02492AK. This revised SAIB serves as a
reminder to this recommendation.
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