Focus Is On Connectors That Could Overheat During Operation

The FAA has issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) following reports of possible overheated and melted connectors in the air conditioning wiring of some helicopters with Air Comm Corporation (Air Comm) Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) installed.

According to the FAA, a helicopter that had connectors installed per one of the affected STCs listed above noted on landing that a burning odor was present. Upon investigation by maintenance personnel, a Molex connector installed per the STC was found to be melted and discolored. Air Comm’s investigation revealed poor crimping, during installation of the connectors, to be the root cause. Further, the investigation revealed the STCs noted in the table could have as many as three Molex connectors installed with two or three pins and sockets in each. Some of these crimps were made when the STC was installed and some were made during production of the STC kit at Air Comm.

The FAA recommends that all owners and operators of helicopters listed in the table provided at the link below, with the associated air-conditioning STCs installed, implement the actions outlined in the listed Air Comm Service Bulletins.

FMI: SAIB