A-03-018
NTSB Safety Recommendation — Aviation
Recommendation text
The National Transportation Safety Board recommends that the Federal Aviation Administration: Issue a flight standards information bulletin (FSIB) informing operators and pilots of single-engine helicopters equipped with Rolls-Royce Model 250 series IV engines of the circumstances of this accident and indicating that a potential fault with the full authority digital electronic control system may cause a sudden, uncommanded decrease of engine power without any identified cockpit indication or warning. The FSIB should also note that switching to manual mode may correct the engine power problem but that recovery to full power may take 2 to 6 seconds, thus possibly precluding a successful recovery to normal flight while operating in those altitude/airspeed combinations under which a safe autorotational landing is not probable.
In plain language (FlightFinder summary)
The Federal Aviation Administration is asked to issue a flight standards information bulletin (FSIB) about single-engine helicopters with Rolls-Royce Model 250 series IV engines. The bulletin should describe a potential fault with the full authority digital electronic control system that may cause a sudden, uncommanded power loss without cockpit indication, and note that switching to manual mode may restore power after a 2- to 6-second delay, which could be too slow for safe recovery at low altitudes or airspeeds.
This plain-language summary is written by FlightFinder to explain the recommendation above. It is not the official wording — the verbatim NTSB text is quoted above.
Details
| Status | Closed - Acceptable Alternate Action |
|---|---|
| Mode | Aviation |
| Closed | Apr 15, 2004 |
| NTSB number | FTW03FA118 |
| Addressees | FAA |
External links
NTSB safety recommendations are advisory; addressees are not legally required to adopt them. Source: NTSB CAROL (public domain).