SAIB SW-03-32

SPECIAL

AIRWORTHINESS

INFORMATION

BULLETIN Aircraft Certification Service Washington, DC U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration No. SW-03-32 March 20, 2003 We post SAIBs on the internet at www.airweb.faa.gov This is information only. Recommendations are not mandatory.

Introduction This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) advises you, owners and operators of Bell 430 helicopters, of available interior modifications that may obstruct the use of the passenger door pop-out windows as emergency exits when you install an emergency flotation kit (floats).

Background The manufacturer placards these pop-out windows as emergency exits regardless of delivered aircraft configuration – with or without floats. According to the certification basis of the aircraft and the intent of the manufacturer, the passenger door pop-out windows are required as emergency exits, ONLY when floats are installed. There have been several reports where post production interior modifications, such as window shades and interior paneling, may either obscure emergency exit placards on the passenger door pop-out windows, or physically obstruct or prevent the use of these windows as emergency exits.

When floats are installed, the passenger door pop-out window placards indicating emergency exits must be clearly displayed and occupants or rescuers must be able to utilize the exits in case of an emergency landing on water.

Recommendations The presence of emergency exit placards on the passenger door pop-out windows may be misleading on aircraft not equipped with floats.

If emergency floats are NOT installed on the helicopter and you have installed any interior modification that obstructs or partially obscures the passenger door pop-out windows to the extent that the availability of these pop-out windows as emergency exits may be difficult, we recommend you remove all interior and exterior markings or placards identifying these windows as emergency exits. With the non-float configuration, the cabin’s primary emergency exits are the doors located on each side of the cabin. You may not install emergency floats on these helicopters with this type of interior modification unless you modify or remove the existing interior modification, so that the pop-out windows are available and placarded as emergency exits.

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

email: sharon.y.miles@faa.gov