FAA Proposes Battery Alerts to Stop Helicopter Power Surprises in Flight
Published Date: 2/6/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
If you fly a Leonardo A119 or AW119 MKII helicopter, listen up! The FAA wants to make sure your helicopter’s battery doesn’t suddenly lose power by adding a new battery discharge detector and updating the flight manual. These changes help keep you safe and need to happen soon to avoid any electrical surprises in the sky.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Battery Detector Installation Required
The FAA proposes a rule that would require installing a battery discharge detector on all Leonardo S.p.a. Model A119 and AW119 MKII helicopters. This action follows a report of a starter-generator electrical failure from a ruptured drive shaft that caused a partial loss of battery power, and is meant to prevent sudden loss of battery power in flight.
Flight Manual Updated for Safety
The FAA proposes that operators of Leonardo S.p.a. Model A119 and AW119 MKII helicopters revise the Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) as specified in the referenced EASA AD. The manual change is intended to address the unsafe condition related to starter-generator failure and partial battery-power loss.
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