The bulletin
Text extracted from the PDF.
FAA Aviation Safety
SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS
INFORMATION BULLETIN SAIB: SW-10-42 SUBJ: Emergency Float Kits Date: August 5, 2010 This is information only. Recommendations aren’t mandatory.
Introduction
This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) alerts owners and operators that an uneven deployment has occurred on aircraft equipped with the following Apical Industries, Inc. Emergency Float Kits:
Kit Part Number Kit Serial Number Effectivity Helicopter Model Supplemental Type Certificate (STC)
614.3001 093 and below Bell 407 SR01535LA
614.3003 139 and below Bell 206L, L-1, L-3, L-4 SR01535LA
614.3004 008 and below Bell 407 SR01535LA
614.3006 006 and below Bell 206L, L-1, L-3, L-4 SR01535LA
614.3007 015 and below Bell 206A, B SR01535LA
614.3008 004 and below Bell 206A, B SR01535LA
Background
During a recent incident involving a helicopter with the subject STC installed, the pilot attempted to deploy the floats as designed. Although the inflation valve released the pressurized gas normally, the floats did not deploy evenly and the right hand mid float was ruptured.
It was determined that the cause for the uneven deployment was due to the incorrect installation of the float inflation hoses at the port fitting located at the base of the forward crosstube saddles. The hose that inflates the mid floats, which has a restricted flow, was crossed with the hose that inflates the aft floats, which has unrestricted flow.
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 Aviation Regulations (14 CFR) part 39.
Recommendations
We recommend that owners/operators equipped with the Apical Industries, Inc. Emergency Float Kits as list above, comply with Apical Industries, Inc.’s Alert Service Bulletin, SB2010-03, dated 7/13/08, revision N/C, which requires the inspection of the float hose port fitting connection and the application of clarifying markings.
For Further Information Contact
Venessa Stiger, Aerospace Engineer, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90710; phone: (562) 627-5337; fax: (562) 627-5210; e-mail: venessa.stiger@faa.gov.
For Related Service Information Contact
Apical Industries, Inc., 2608 Temple Heights Drive, Oceanside, California 92056-3512, phone: (760) 724-5300; fax: (760) 758-9612.
Registered aircraft it may concern
Registry models matched by Apical Industries Emergency Float Kits, 206A, 206B and 5 more, the same way as ADs, with the most registered aircraft first.