NTSB Issues Safety Recommendation A-16-010 to FAA Regarding Helicopter Fuel System Modifications

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued Safety Recommendation A-16-010, designated under reference number CEN15FA164, to the Federal Aviation Administration. This directive supersedes the earlier Safety Recommendation A-14-001. The NTSB is urging the FAA to issue a special airworthiness information bulletin that will be periodically updated. This bulletin is intended to inform all helicopter owners and operators about available modifications designed to improve fuel system crashworthiness. The recommendation explicitly urges these stakeholders to install such modifications as soon as practicable. Furthermore, the NTSB has instructed that the bulletin should discuss specific helicopter accidents cited in the associated report to encourage helicopter owners and operators to retrofit existing helicopters with a crash-resistant fuel system.