The bulletin
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FAA Aircraft Certification Service
SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS
INFORMATION BULLETIN SUBJ: Equipment/Furnishings - Reserve Parachute Harness SAIB: NE-08-29 Date: June 16, 2008 This is information only. Recommendations aren’t mandatory.
Introduction This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) alerts you, owners, operators, and riggers of reserve parachute harness containers equipped with a VIGIL automatic activation device manufactured by AAD nv/sa Advanced Aerospace Designs, of an airworthiness directive (AD) issued by the Direction General de l’Aviation Civile (DGAC), which is the aviation authority for France. These reserve parachute automatic activation devices are not an appliance associated with a type certificated product in the United States and, therefore, the condition is not addressed by FAA AD action.
Background The DGAC was made aware of several cases of the failure to open or the uncommanded opening of reserve parachute harness containers. These events may lead to a catastrophic result, in case of an uncommanded opening within the dispatching aircraft, or failure to deploy during the parachute jump. The DGAC issued AD F-2008-007 (attached), effective upon receipt from June 3, 2008, prohibiting further use of certain activation devices.
Recommendations We recommend that all owners, operators, and riggers of a reserve parachute harness container equipped with a VIGIL automatic activation device perform the following, before the next jump:
1. Check the VIGIL automatic activation device manufacture date referenced on the identity card delivered by the manufacturer, AAD.
2. If this date is August 1, 2006, or before, remove the VIGIL automatic activation device from the harness container. These triggers should not be used.
3. If this date is after August 1, 2006, determine whether the VIGIL automatic activation device cutter is made of stainless steel and the hole has a vinyl sleeve. If not, replace the selector and the closing loop. This replacement should be performed by a qualified person.
4. Record these actions in the parachute logbook.
For Further Information Contact Jeffrey Lee, Aerospace Engineer, Boston Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7161; fax: (781) 238-7170; e-mail:
Jeffrey.lee@faa.gov For Related Service Information Contact AAD nv/sa Advanced Aerospace Designs 193 Blvd A. Reyers 1030 Brussels Belgium Tel: 32(0) 732 6552 ; e-mail: info@vigil.aero http://www.vigil.aero