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.
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