A special airworthiness information bulletin has been issued by the US Federal Aviation Administration recommending that Fairchild Hiller FH1100 light helicopter operators comply with a manufacturer's alert requiring aircraft to be inspected for structural cracks, improper repairs and unapproved parts.
The bulletin reinforces a service letter issued in July 2005 by Florida-based FH1100 Manufacturing (FMC), owner of the type certificate for the five-seat helicopter, production of which ended in 1973. Labelled mandatory, the letter requires an airframe conformity inspection by the factory or authorised service centre within 12 years of original manufacture.
The alert followed discovery of "numerous structural cracks and/or improper airframe repairs" during routine factory inspections, the service letter says, adding: "Further inspections revealed an alarming number of suspected unapproved parts and/or unapproved repairs." FMC suspected the cracks and repairs were due to "unrecorded hard landings or unreported accidents followed by improper repairs that are often unrecorded".
Source: Flight International
