Aircraft
Certification Service Washington, DC U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration
SW-20-01
March 6, 2020
This is information only. Recommendations
aren’t mandatory.
Introduction
This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) alerts owners
and operators of Robinson Model R44 and R66 helicopters of the
potential for electrolyte leakage from certain lead acid batteries
manufactured by Concorde Battery, Inc.
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 Regulations (14 CFR) part 39.
Background
There have been a number of reports of lead acid batteries leaking
electrolyte. Although the batteries are of absorbed glass mat (AGM)
technology, leakage has occurred for batteries installed on their side
(posts not oriented up). Robinson has issued service information for
re-orienting some installations as well as for addressing leakage which
has occurred. The affected batteries for the Model R66 helicopters are
Robinson part number (P/N) B237-7 and P/N B237-8 (Concorde P/N RG24-20
and P/N RG-325), respectively. For the Model R44 helicopters, the
Robinson P/N is B237-4 (Concorde P/N RG24-15).
Concorde has also incorporated improved procedures for batteries manufactured after January 2019 to minimize excess electrolyte.
Recommendations
The FAA recommends that owners/operators of Robinson R44 and R66
helicopters review and comply with R44 Service Bulletin SB-99, dated
July 3, 2019, or R66 Service Bulletin SB-28, dated March 6, 2019, as
appropriate.
For Further Information Contact
Thanh Tran, Aerospace Engineer, 3960 Paramount Blvd, Lakewood, CA
90712, United States; phone: (562) 627-5304; fax: (562) 627-5210;
e-mail: thanh.b.tran@faa.gov.
For Related Service Information Contact