Fuel Level Indication

SAIB SW-12-10R1 Current Issued 02/03/2012 Enstrom Helicopter Corporation, The 280 | 280C | 280F | 280FX | F-28A | F-28C | F-28F

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. 11 paragraphs · 341 words.

FAA Aviation Safety SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS INFORMATION BULLETIN SAIB: SW-12-10R1 SUBJ: Fuel Level Indication Date: February 3, 2012 This is information only. Recommendations aren’t mandatory.

Introduction

Revision 1 of this Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) is issued to include all Enstrom piston aircraft. These aircraft use the same fuel system. This SAIB alerts owners and operators of Enstrom Helicopter Corporation manufactured F-28A, F-28C, F-28F, 280, 280C, 280F and 280FX helicopters of a false fuel quantity indication with subsequent risk exposure to fuel exhaustion during flight.

Background

There has been a report of a helicopter accident that occurred after fuel exhaustion. Investigation revealed a false “Full” fuel quantity indication on the fuel indicator as contributory. This false reading was due to the fuel level sending unit wires being disconnected. A false fuel quantity indication of “Full” results when the fuel level sending unit wires are disconnected at the “wristlock” located between the tops of the left and right fuel tanks, with the master switch in the “On” position.

Recommendations

We recommend that prior to each flight the visual check specified in the flight manual be performed to verify fuel quantity in the fuel tank. When the fuel tank is “Full” the fuel quantity indicator in the cockpit should read “Full”. If the fuel quantity in the tank is less than “Full” and the fuel quantity indicator reads “Full” then the fuel indicating system should be serviced per the applicable maintenance manual to correct any noncompliance. In addition, during Periodic Inspection a visual check of the “wristlock” is recommended to ensure the plastic covers over the “wristlock” connections are tie-wrapped in accordance with the maintenance manual.

References

Enstrom Maintenance Manual, page MM-3-7, Section 3-2 Periodic Inspection, Nature of Inspection B.2(d); pages MM-13-72, 73 and 74, Section 13-10 Fuel System, B(1)(c) and B(2)(c); and Enstrom Rotorcraft Flight Manual RFM 28-AC-020, pages 4.3 and 4.4, paragraphs 12 and 23

For Further Information Contact

Ed Cuevas, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA Safety Management Group, ASW-112, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas, 76137; phone: (817) 222-5355; e-mail: [email protected]. 1

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