008/17

Recommendation Date
Recipient Name
CAA
Text
On 23 February 2017 the Commission:
- gave notice to the Director of Civil Aviation that recommendation 007/17 had been made to the Administrator of the FAA, which recommended the FAA extend the limitations and requirements of FAA AD 95-26-04 to the R44 and R66, and to all Robinson pilots regardless of their experience levels
- recommended to the Director of Civil Aviation that until such time as recommendation 007/17 is actioned by the FAA, he extend the limitations and requirements of FAA AD 95-26-04 to R44 and R66 helicopters in New Zealand, and to all pilots of Robinson helicopters in New Zealand regardless of their experience.
Reply Text
The Director will consider whether the action sought by the Commission meets the legislative threshold that must be satisfied for the issue of an Airworthiness Directive. In doing this he will take into consideration the fact there have been no 'mast bump'accidents in NZ during the past two years. In addition, at the time of providing this response, the CAA has a team in the US working with the FAA Rotorcraft Directorate and the Robinons Helicopter Company on possible amendments to the Limitations sections of the Pilot Operating Handbooks of the Robinson series aircraft and improvements to safety awareness training. It may be that this work will provide an outcome that will meet the intent of the Commission’s recommendation.
Related Investigation(s)