HAI Wants YOUR Input On Problematic NPRM

The NTSB has issued an NPRM to amend Federal regulations governing notification and reporting of aircraft accidents, incidents, overdue aircraft, and additional requirements governing the preservation of aircraft wreckage.

HAI President Roy Resavage encourages all HAI members to carefully review the proposed rule which would remove reference to ground damage to helicopter main and tail rotor blades from the list of exclusions. The NTSB has called for the revision, stating “the main rotor blades of a helicopter are the lifting surfaces of the aircraft and are considered to be equivalent to the wings of an airplane.” Further, the “tail rotor blades of a helicopter provide yaw control and are analogous to the rudder control surface of an airplane.” Thus, the NTSB proposes to bring any event involving ground damage to main or tail rotor blades within the definition “Substantial Damage.” This would clearly make them “Reportable Events” that would require that the event be reported as an accident instead of an incident.

This issue has been addressed in meetings with members of the NTSB and was a topic of discussion during many of the HAI standing committee meetings at HELI-EXPO 2005. The Helicopter Association International will also submit comments on behalf of our members and we are asking for your input to assist in preparing our submittal. HAI requested that the comment period be extended and we have just received word from the NTSB that a two week extension has been granted. The new deadline for submittal of comments to the NTSB is now on or before March 11, 2005.

Considering the importance of this issue and fully recognizing the shortness of time for preparing submittals, HAI requests that you have your comment back to HAI by close of business Monday March 7, 2005. Again we encourage you to submit your comments to HAI, as well as directly to the NTSB.

You may access and review the full NPRM, along with an “Information Sheet” authored by Mr. Roy G. Fox, Chief, Flight Safety, Bell Helicopter Textron by going to www.rotor.com/NTSBNPRM.pdf and www.rotor.com/NTSBNPRMinfo.pdf. Mr. Fox has stated that you are welcome to use, as you see fit, the information and comments he has provided, in preparing your own comments for submittal to the NTSB.

Additional information on this proposed rule is available from Deepak Joshi, Lead Aerospace Engineer for the NTSB at 202-314-6348. Written comments should be submitted to Mr. Joshi at the NTSB, Room 5235, 490 L’Enfant Plaza, SW, Washington, D.C. 20594. HAI members may also contact HAI Director of Heliports & Technical Programs, Harold Summers at 703-683-4646 or by e-mail at harold.summers@rotor.com.

FMI: www.rotor.com, www.ntsb.gov