Air Conditioning System Wiring

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FAA Aviation Safety SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS INFORMATION BULLETIN SUBJ: Air Conditioning System Wiring SAIB: SW-15-20 Date: 8/13/2015 This is information only. Recommendations aren’t mandatory.

Introduction

This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) alerts owners and operators of possible overheated and melted connectors in the air conditioning wiring of the following helicopters with Air Comm Corporation (Air Comm) Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) installed:

Model Air Comm Service Bulletin Number and Title Date Date Issued STC Number Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited (Bell) 206 206-110414 Bell 206 Air Conditioner Blower Motor Connector 11/4/2014 SH2750NM Bell 407 407-110414 Bell 407 Air Conditioner Blower Motor Connector SR00222DE Bell 427 427-110414 Bell 427 Air Conditioner Blower Motor Connector SR00418DE Agusta S.p.A. (Agusta) A119 A119-111014 Agusta A119 Air Conditioning Aft Evaporator Blower Motor Connector 11/10/2014 SR00463DE Agusta A119 A119-7004 Agusta A119 Air Conditioner Condenser Blower Motor Connector 11/4/2014 SR00463DE Airbus Helicopters (Airbus) AS350 AS350-111014 AS350 Air Conditioning Aft Evaporator Blower Motor Connector 11/10/2014 SR00643DE Airbus EC120 EC120-111014 Airbus EC120 Air Conditioner Blower Motor Connector SR00491DE Airbus EC130 EC130-6204 Airbus EC130 Air Conditioning Aft Evaporator Blower Motor Connector SR00543DE

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

A helicopter that had connectors installed per one of the affected STCs listed above noted on landing that a burning odor was present. Upon investigation by maintenance personnel, a Molex connector installed per the STC was found to be melted and discolored. Air Comm’s investigation revealed poor crimping, during installation of the connectors, to be the root cause. Further, the investigation revealed the STCs noted in the table could have as many as three Molex connectors installed with

2 two or three pins and sockets in each. Some of these crimps were made when the STC was installed and some were made during production of the STC kit at Air Comm.

Recommendations

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recommends that all owners and operators of helicopters listed in the previous table, with the associated air-conditioning STCs installed, implement the actions outlined in the listed Air Comm Service Bulletins.

For Further Information Contact

Matthew Bryant, Aviation Safety Engineer; Denver Aircraft Certification Office, East 68th Avenue, Room 214, Denver, Colorado 80249; phone 303-342-1092; fax 303-342-1088; e-mail [email protected].

For Related Service Information Contact

Air Comm., Inc. (Kellar Moore), Customer Service, 1575 West 124th Avenue, Westminster, Co 80234, (303)440-4075.