Helicopter Hoist Button Goes Rogue at Night, FAA Says Fix It
Published Date: 1/31/2025
Rule
Summary
If you fly certain Airbus Helicopters, listen up! The FAA found a safety glitch where a hoist button might accidentally activate during night flights. Starting March 7, 2025, pilots and maintenance crews must check and fix the safety cap on the collective pitch handle to keep flights safe and avoid using some specific parts unless they meet new rules.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
Mandatory hoist safety-cap inspections
If your helicopter (one of the listed Airbus models) has a hoist, you must check the shear-button safety-cap within 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) after March 7, 2025, and then at intervals not to exceed 12 months TIS. The FAA estimates each check takes 1 work-hour at $85 per hour (about $85 per helicopter per check and $5,610 for the 66-helicopter U.S. fleet, per check cycle).
Required spring replacement if defective
If the safety-cap does not fully open or close during the required checks, before further flight you must remove the spring from service and replace it with an airworthy spring. The FAA estimates replacement takes 1 work-hour plus $25 in parts for an estimated $110 per replacement.
Placard option restricts night hoist use
Instead of immediate spring replacement, you may install a non-erasable placard reading "NIGHT HOIST OPERATIONS PROHIBITED" (font ≥4 mm, red on white or white on red) visible to pilot and co-pilot, before further flight. If you use this option you must replace the spring and remove the placard within 150 hours TIS after installing it.
Parts installation restrictions for listed handles
As of March 7, 2025, you may not install the listed collective pitch handle part numbers, or a collective stick with those handles installed, unless the required safety-cap check and any corrective action have been done or the collective pitch handle is new (zero total hours TIS).
Pilot-performed checks and record requirement
An owner/operator pilot with at least a private pilot certificate may perform the required shear-button safety-cap checks and must enter compliance into the helicopter maintenance records per 14 CFR 43.9(a) and 91.417(a)(2)(v). The FAA treats this as an exception to standard maintenance rules because the check only involves lifting the safety-cap and observing its return.
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