SAIB SW-20-01

FAA Aviation Safety

SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS

INFORMATION BULLETIN SUBJ: Electrical Power System - Battery Electrolyte Leakage SAIB: SW-20-01 Date: 3/6/2020 This is information only. Recommendations aren’t mandatory.

Introduction

This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) alerts owners and operators of Robinson Model R44 and R66 helicopters of the potential for electrolyte leakage from certain lead acid batteries manufactured by Concorde Battery, Inc.

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 Regulations (14 CFR) part 39.

Background

There have been a number of reports of lead acid batteries leaking electrolyte. Although the batteries are of absorbed glass mat (AGM) technology, leakage has occurred for batteries installed on their side (posts not oriented up). Robinson has issued service information for re-orienting some installations as well as for addressing leakage which has occurred. The affected batteries for the Model R66 helicopters are Robinson part number (P/N) B237-7 and P/N B237-8 (Concorde P/N RG24-20 and P/N RG-325), respectively. For the Model R44 helicopters, the Robinson P/N is B237-4 (Concorde P/N RG24-15).

Concorde has also incorporated improved procedures for batteries manufactured after January 2019 to minimize excess electrolyte.

Recommendations

The FAA recommends that owners/operators of Robinson R44 and R66 helicopters review and comply with R44 Service Bulletin SB-99, dated July 3, 2019, or R66 Service Bulletin SB-28, dated March 6, 2019, as appropriate.

For Further Information Contact

Thanh Tran, Aerospace Engineer, 3960 Paramount Blvd, Lakewood, CA 90712, United States;

phone: (562) 627-5304; fax: (562) 627-5210; e-mail: thanh.b.tran@faa.gov.

For Related Service Information Contact

Robinson Helicopter Company; phone: (310) 539-0508; www.robinsonheli.com.