SAIB SW-12-45

FAA Aviation Safety

SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS

INFORMATION BULLETIN SAIB: SW-12-45 SUBJ: Garmin Model 400W/500W Series GPS-WAAS Navigation System Date: October 3, 2012 This is information only. Recommendations aren’t mandatory.

Introduction This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) alerts owners and operators of Part 27 helicopters whose model is listed on the Approved Model List (AML) of Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SR02232LA (except Agusta S.p.A, Model A 109A-II) which installs the Garmin 400W/500W series GPS-WAAS Navigation of an airworthiness concern with those installations.

At this time, this airworthiness concern is not considered an unsafe condition that would warrant an airworthiness directive action under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 39.

Background Part 27 helicopters listed on the AML of STC SR02232LA (except Agusta S.p.A, Model A 109A-II) were included with insufficient type design data to support FAA regulatory compliant installations of Garmin Model 400W/500W series GPS-WAAS Navigation Units. As a result, installation of these systems in certain rotorcraft may not be in full compliance with all applicable airworthiness regulations. STC SR02232LA was amended on June 7, 2011 to limit installation on Agusta S.p.A, Model A109A-II only.

Recommendations We recommend that owners and operators of Part 27 helicopters (other than Agusta S.p.A. Model 109A-II) with the Garmin 400W/500W series GPS-WAAS Navigation Unit installed in accordance with STC SR02232LA prior to June 7, 2011 continue to contact Garmin for operational support. For installation of Garmin 400W/500W series GPS-WAAS Navigation Unit using STC SR02232LA data on or after June 7, 2011 it is only applicable to Agusta S.p.A model A 109A-II.

For Further Information Contact Jen Pei, Aerospace Engineer, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90710; phone: (562) 627-5320;

fax: (562) 627-5210; e-mail: jen.pei@faa.gov.

For Related Service Information Contact Garmin AT, Inc., 2345 Turner Road S.E., Salem, OR 97302; phone: (800) 525-6726; fax: (503) 364- 2138.