# SAIB SW-06-19: 

- Type: Special airworthiness information bulletin (advisory, not mandatory)
- Status: Current
- Revision: 0
- Issued: December 28, 2005
- Products: Robinson Helicopter R44 and R44 II
- Product type: Aircraft, Rotorcraft
- PDF: https://openairdocs.org/files/sha256/6c/d4/6cd45955065497c2ea62b5493e8601236171a9b0e6761ad75c213e842620047b
- FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/8225BC3C8A7EF2078625721F0052EC26.0001
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/saib/SW-06-19

## Text

**SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS**

**INFORMATION BULLETIN**

Aircraft Certification Service Washington, DC

U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration

SW-06-19 December 28, 2005 http://www.faa.gov/aircraft/safety/alerts/SAIB This is information only. Recommendations aren’t mandatory.

CORRECTION: This corrects a typo in the Recommendation paragraph: “place” should be “replace”. All other information remains the same.

Introduction

This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin alerts you, owners and operators of Robinson Helicopter Company R44 and R44 II model helicopters, of an airworthiness issue with seat belt buckle assembly part number C628-4.

Reference Documentation

The following reference provides familiarity with the seat belt buckle assembly:

Robinson Helicopter Company R44 Illustrated Parts Catalog, Figure 1-11, Detail B (attached).

Background

On September 24, 2005, an R44 helicopter was involved in a fatal accident. During the ongoing investigation with the National Safety Transportation Board (NTSB), we observed fractures originating from the rivets on the seat belt buckle support straps.

Robinson has reported that leaning on or sliding across seat belt buckles can bend their stainless support straps. Straps that are repeatedly bent may crack in service.

Robinson is redesigning the seat belt buckle assembly to prevent cracking and plans to release a service bulletin.

Recommendation

We strongly recommend that you accomplish the following at each 100-hour inspection.

Failure to do so could lead to failure of the seat belt buckle support strap.

• Refer to R44 Illustrated Parts Catalog (IPC) Figure 1-11, Detail B.

• Cut and remove plastic covers from all four C628-4 seat belt buckle assemblies.

• Aircraft with four-point harnesses do not have rigid front-seat buckle assemblies. Inspection is only recommended for rear-seat buckles on these aircraft.

• Visually inspect seat belt buckle assembly stainless straps, particularly in the vicinity of rivets. If you find cracks, replace the seat belt buckle assembly before further flight.

Note: We may issue further required actions when more information is available.

For Further Information Contact

Venessa Stiger, Aerospace Engineer, FAA Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, ANM- 150L, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712; phone: (562) 627-5337; fax: (562) 627- 5210; email: venessa.stiger@faa.gov

Robinson Helicopter Company, 2901 Airport Drive, Torrance, CA 90505 phone: (310) 539- 0508; fax: (562) 539-5198

## Registered aircraft it may concern (OpenAirDocs)

Registry models matched by make and model, the same way as ADs, most registered aircraft first.

- [Robinson Helicopter R44 II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-ii): 1,380 registered aircraft (airframe model)
- [Robinson Helicopter R44](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44): 551 registered aircraft (airframe model)
- [Robinson Helicopter R44 ASTRO](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r44-astro): 6 registered aircraft (airframe model)

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