AD 2022-01-03 Prompted By Reports Of A Quality Control Issue On Certain Fire Extinguishers

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Umlaut Engineering GmbH (previously P3 Engineering GmbH) HAFEX (Halon-free) hand-held P3HAFEX fire extinguishers (fire extinguishers).

This AD was prompted by reports of a quality control issue on certain fire extinguishers, where the spindle geometries of the fire extinguishers were found to be out of tolerance. This AD requires removing affected fire extinguishers from service. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is effective March 7, 2022.

Supplementary Information: The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to Umlaut Engineering GmbH (previously P3 Engineering GmbH) fire extinguisher part numbers (P/Ns) P3APP003010A and P3APP003010C with a manufacturing date of March 2019 through July 2019 inclusive and with a serial number (S/N) listed in Appendix 1 of Umlaut Vendor Service Bulletin Doc. No. P3VSB000001, Issue C, dated December 13, 2019 (VSB P3VSB000001, Issue C), that may be installed on various model helicopters. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on October 8, 2021 (86 FR 56232). In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require removing affected fire extinguishers from service and prohibit installing affected fire extinguishers on any aircraft.

The NPRM was prompted by EASA AD 2020-0013, dated January 29, 2020 (EASA AD 2020-0013), issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, to correct an unsafe condition for Airbus Helicopters Model AS 332 C, C1, L, L1, and L2, AS 365 N2 and N3, EC 155 B and B1, EC 175 B, EC 225 LP, SA 330 J, and SA 365 C1, C2, C3, N, and N1 helicopters; Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Model EC135 P1, P2, P2+, P3, T1, T2, T2+, and T3, EC635 P2+, P3, T1, T2+, and T3, and MBB-BK117 A-1, A-3, A-4, B-1, B-2, C-1, C-2, and D-2 helicopters; Leonardo S.p.A. Model AB139, AB 204B, AB 205 A-1, AB 212, AB 412, AB 412EP, AS-61N, AS-61N1, AW139, AW169, and AW189 helicopters; and WSK PZL-SWIDNIK S.A.

Model PZL W-3A and PZL W-3AS helicopters. EASA advises of occurrences that have been reported of a quality issue on certain fire extinguishers, manufactured by Umlaut Engineering GmbH (formerly P3 Engineering GmbH), where the spindle geometries of the extinguishers were found to be out of tolerance. The manufacturing defect was identified in certain serial-numbered fire extinguisher P/Ns P3APP003010A and P3APP003010C with a manufacturing date of March 2019 through July 2019 inclusive, where prolonged exposure (12 hours or more) to high temperature conditions of more than 68 °C (154.4 °F) could cause a non-detectable seizure of the spindle that could cause the fire extinguisher to be inoperative. This condition, if not addressed, could prevent proper extinguishing of a fire in the cabin, possibly resulting in damage to the helicopter and injury to the occupants.

Accordingly, EASA AD 2020-0013 requires replacing affected fire extinguishers and prohibits installing an affected fire extinguisher on any helicopter.

FMI: www.regulations.gov