The National Transportation Safety Board has directed the Federal Aviation Administration to require retrofitting of existing Robinson R44 helicopters.
Safety recommendation
The National Transportation Safety Board has directed the Federal Aviation Administration to require retrofitting of existing Robinson R44 helicopters.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued Safety Recommendation A-14-001, identified by reference number WPR13FA054, addressed to the Federal Aviation Administration. This directive urges the FAA to mandate that owners and operators of existing Robinson R44 helicopters comply with the fuel tank retrofit procedures outlined in Robinson Helicopter Company Service Bulletin SB-78B. The primary objective of this requirement is to enhance the resistance of these aircraft to postaccident fuel tank leaks, thereby improving overall safety outcomes. It is important to note that this specific recommendation has since been superseded by Safety Recommendation A-16-010, which likely expands or updates the regulatory requirements for this fleet.