Extra safety standards for Airbus (Squirrel) helicopter

27/11/2015

Extra safety standards mandated for Airbus (Squirrel) helicopters

The CAA says an Airworthiness Directive issued on Airbus ‘Squirrel’ helicopters is a necessary safety precaution.

Graeme Harris, The Director of Civil Aviation (CAA) has determined that a directive clarifying the standards to be applied when loading and operating some Airbus Airbus AS350/355 (or 'Squirrel') helicopters operating in New Zealand is necessary.

Mr Harris says “The Squirrel helicopter was initially manufactured with six seats. One for the pilot on the right-hand side at the front, a front left hand side passenger seat and four seats in the rear. A large number of modifications were subsequently created, including one by the aircraft manufacturer, to replace the single passenger seat in the front with one that could carry two passengers. As a result of an investigation into a Squirrel accident in 2014, the CAA has become concerned at the adequacy and accuracy of the instructions for calculating the weight and balance of the helicopter associated with some of the dual seat modifications.”

Mr Harris said “The purpose of the Airworthiness Directive is to ensure that operators load their aircraft exactly in accordance with the manufacturer’s approved limits and to remind them to carry out precise weight and balance calculations before they fly. The investigation of this issue has been underway for some months and following clarification of certain technical details by Airbus in the past few days, the CAA considers that it is timely to clarify the correct weight limits for the ‘after-market’ installed dual front seat and to restate the need to conduct accurate weight and balance calculations to ensure the aircraft is operated within the manufacturer’s limits”.

Mr Harris said “that as part of its investigation the CAA had inspected a number of Squirrel operations during August this year”. He said that while it was reassuring to find that those operators were loading and operating their aircraft within limits he nevertheless felt that there was sufficient ambiguity in some instructions for calculating weight and balance to justify issuing this directive as a precautionary measure.

The CAA stresses that the new requirements originate from the CAA investigation of a Squirrel accident in 2014. Their development is not in any way linked to last Saturday’s tragic accident at Fox Glacier involving a Squirrel helicopter. The CAA is not making any link between this issue and the Fox Glacier accident. The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) is investigating that accident and in due course it will make findings about the factors that contributed to it.”

The new requirements are effective immediately.

“The safety of passengers and crew is our primary concern. Taking a conservative yet considered approach to the issues raised will provide greater safety assurance to the flying public”. Mr Harris concluded.

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