# SAIB SW-01-14: 

- Type: Special airworthiness information bulletin (advisory, not mandatory)
- Status: Current
- Revision: 0
- Issued: February 16, 2001
- Products: Bell Helicopter Textron 427 Helicopters
- Product type: Aircraft, Rotorcraft
- PDF: https://openairdocs.org/files/sha256/d2/81/d28103c6518d99617533b46e1dd81c4111e2f43b1d44b1ff29a92dea036cd5cf
- FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/657D1F9230155E9A8625721F0052ECB8.0001
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/saib/SW-01-14

## Text

**SPECIAL**

**AIRWORTHINESS**

**INFORMATION**

BULLETIN Aircraft Certification Service Washington, DC U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration No. SW-01-14 February 16, 2001 We post SAIBs on the internet at "av-info.faa.gov" This is information only. Recommendations are not mandatory.

Introduction This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) advises you, as owner or operator of Bell 427 helicopters of several ground incidents where the main rotor blades contacted the top portion of the horizontal stabilizer endplates. This is for information purposes only and recommendations for corrective action are not mandatory.

Background There have been several ground incidents where the main rotor blades contacted the top portion of the horizontal stabilizer endplates. The incidents were discovered during the post-flight inspections.

These incidents have all occurred on aircraft equipped with the larger auxiliary fin assemblies installed on aircraft with internal gross weight (IGW) of 6350 lbs.

Recommendations Subsequent investigation has revealed that the aircraft is particularly susceptible to endplate contact when landing on a slope with nose pointing down slope or landing with aft Center of Gravity (C of G). Until more information is available, each owner and operator should avoid slope landings.

In addition, each owner and operator should pay particular attention while landing with aft C of G.

Avoid excessive or rapid aft cyclic input once ground contact has been established. If main rotor blade strike is suspected due to unusual noise/bang during landing, inspect auxiliary fin assembly before further flight.

For Further Information Contact Sharon Miles, Aviation Safety Engineer, Federal Aviation Administration, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations Group, Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0111; telephone (817) 222-5122; fax (817) 222-5961;

e-mail: sharon.y.miles@faa.gov

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