Emergency Float with Liferaft Kits (kits)

SAIB SW-08-42 Current Issued 08/27/2008 Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited | Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. | Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH 206A | 206B | 206L | 206L-1 | 206L-3 | 206L-4 | 407 | 210 | 212 | 412 | 412CF | 412EP | BO-105A | BO-105C | BO-105S | EC135 P1 | EC135 P2 | EC135 P2+ | EC135 T1 | EC135 T2 | EC135 T2+

What is a SAIB?

A Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin is an FAA-issued advisory — not mandatory like an AD, but worth knowing about. SAIBs typically flag service bulletins, manufacturer recommendations, or emerging issues that don't (yet) rise to AD level.

Bulletin text

Verbatim from the FAA-published PDF. 13 paragraphs · 324 words.

FAA Aircraft Certification Service SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS INFORMATION BULLETIN SUBJ: Install Placards on Certain Emergency Float with Liferaft Kits SAIB: SW-08-42 Date: August 27, 2008 This is information only. Recommendations aren’t mandatory.

Introduction

This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) owners and operators equipped with the following Apical Industries, Inc. Emergency Float with Liferaft Kits (kits):

Emergency Float with Liferaft Kit Part Number (P/N) Serial Number (S/N ) Affected Helicopter Model STC 614.3001 080 and below Bell 407 SR01535LA 614.3003 133 and below Bell 206L, L-1, L-3, L-4 SR01535LA 614.3007 014 and below Bell 206A, B SR01535LA 614.7601 045 and below

Bell 210, 212, 412, 412EP, 412CF, B412, AB412EP SR01779LA 634.2901 012 and below Bell 427 SR01813LA 644.1801 031 and below Eurocopter EC135 SR01855LA 20430-300 009 and below Eurocopter BO-105A, C, S, LS, A-3 SR00856LA

Background

An aircraft equipped with a kit listed above was involved in an accident in which the pilot failed to deploy the liferafts using the primary internal inflation handle. Two external T-Handles were available for deployment of the liferafts, but were not used because the passengers were unaware of their location. Therefore, adding an external Liferaft Handle Inflation Placard as standard equipment to all of the kits shown above is recommended. The purpose of this placard is to clearly denote the location of the external liferaft inflation T-handles as well as their function.

Recommendations

We recommend that owners/operators equipped with an affected kit, as listed in the Introduction section of this SAIB, comply with Apical Industries Inc. Alert Service Bulletin Document Number SB2008-01, dated July 28, 2008, Revision N/C, which specifies the installation of an external Liferaft Handle Inflation Placard.

For Further Information Contact

Ms. Venessa Stiger, Aerospace Engineer; Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, ANM-150L, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California 90712, phone: (562) 627-5337; fax: (562) 627- 5210 email: [email protected].

For Related Service Information Contact

Apical Industries, Inc., 2608 Temple Heights Drive, Oceanside, California 92056-3512, phone: (760) 724-5300; fax: (760) 758-9612.

The FAA-published PDF is the authoritative source. Open on drs.faa.gov ↗