The National Transportation Safety Board safety recommendations

Citation

(2009), "The National Transportation Safety Board safety recommendations", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 81 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2009.12781aab.015

The National Transportation Safety Board safety recommendations

Article Type: Safety topics and notes From: Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology: An International Journal, Volume 81, Issue 1

Safety Recommendations A-08-63 through -68

The National Transportation Safety Board recommends that the FAA:

Require parachute jump operators to develop and implement FAA-approved aircraft maintenance and inspection programs that include, at a minimum, requirements for compliance with engine manufacturers’ recommended maintenance instructions, such as service bulletins and service information letters for time between overhauls and component life limits (A-08-63).

Develop and distribute guidance materials, in conjunction with the USPA, for parachute jump operators to assist operators in implementing effective aircraft inspection and maintenance quality assurance programs (A-08-64).

Require parachute jump operators to develop initial and recurrent pilot training programs that address, at a minimum, operation- and aircraft-specific weight and balance calculations, preflight inspections, emergency and recovery procedures, and parachutist egress procedures for each type of aircraft flown (A-08-65).

Require initial and recurrent pilot testing programs for parachute jump operations pilots that address, at a minimum, operation- and aircraft-specific weight and balance calculations, preflight inspections, emergency and recovery procedures, and parachutist egress procedures for each type of aircraft flown, as well as competency flight checks to determine pilot competence in practical skills and techniques in each type of aircraft (A-08-66).

Revise the guidance materials contained in Advisory Circular (AC) 105-2C, Sport Parachute Jumping, to include guidance for parachute jump operators in implementing effective initial and recurrent pilot training and examination programs that address, at a minimum, operation- and aircraft-specific weight and balance calculations, preflight inspections, emergency procedures, and parachutist egress procedures (A-08-67).

Require direct surveillance of parachute jump operators to include, at a minimum, maintenance and operations inspections (A-08-68).

Safety Recommendations A-08-69 and -70

The National Transportation Safety Board recommends that the USPA:

Work with the FAA to develop and distribute guidance materials for parachute jump operators to assist operators in implementing effective aircraft inspection and maintenance quality assurance programs (A-08-69).

Once AC 105-2C, Sport Parachute Jumping, has been revised to include guidance for parachute jump operators in implementing effective initial and recurrent pilot training and examination programs that address, at a minimum, operation- and aircraft-specific weight and balance calculations, preflight inspections, emergency procedures, and parachutist egress procedures, distribute this revised AC to your members and encourage adherence to its guidance (A-08-70).

Safety Recommendations A-08-73 and -74

The National Transportation Safety Board recommends that the USPA:

Work with the FAA to conduct research to determine the most effective dual-point restraint systems for parachutists that reflects the various aircraft and seating configurations used in parachute operations (A-08-73).

Once the most effective dual-point restraint systems for parachutists are determined, as requested in Safety Recommendation A-08-71, educate your members on the findings and encourage them to use the most effective dual-point restraint systems (A-08-74).

Safety Recommendations A-08-75 and -76

The National Transportation Safety Board recommends that the FAA:

Require Eurocopter to identify AS-350 and EC-130 helicopter hydraulic pump drive shafts and coupling sleeves with splines that do not meet design specifications and take appropriate action to ensure that these parts (that is, replacement parts and parts to be installed in new helicopters) are expeditiously removed from the supply chain (A-08-75).

Require operators of Eurocopter AS-350 and EC-130 helicopters to perform a wear check, visual inspection, and lubrication of the hydraulic power assembly splines and coupling sleeve splines in accordance with the latest version of the maintenance manual at the earliest opportunity, and, thereafter, require operators to repeat the wear check, visual inspection, and lubrication of the splined connection at 100 h intervals, and remove unairworthy parts from service (A-08-76).

Safety Recommendations A-08-77 and -78

The National Transportation Safety Board recommends that the EASA:

Require Eurocopter to identify AS-350 and EC-130 helicopter hydraulic pump drive shafts and coupling sleeves with splines that do not meet design specifications and take appropriate action to ensure that these parts (that is, replacement parts and parts to be installed in new helicopters) are expeditiously removed from the supply chain (A-08-77).

Require operators of Eurocopter AS-350 and EC-130 helicopters to perform a wear check, visual inspection, and lubrication of the hydraulic power assembly splines and coupling sleeve splines in accordance with the latest version of the maintenance manual at the earliest opportunity, and, thereafter, require operators to repeat the wear check, visual inspection, and lubrication of the splined connection at 100 h intervals, and remove unairworthy parts from service (A-08-78).