2009-15-14: Fire bottle, Fixed

2009-15-14 Agusta S.p.A.: Amendment 39-15977; Docket No. FAA-2009- 0168; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-33-AD. Effective Date (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective on September 9, 2009. Other Affected ADs (b) None. Applicability (c) This AD applies to Model AB139 helicopters, serial number (S/N) 31005 through 31054, except S/N 31007, and AW139 helicopters, S/N 31055 through 31067, S/N 31070, and S/N 31071, certificated in any category. Reason (d) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) states that during the installation of a fire extinguisher bottle, part number 3G2620V00131, on a helicopter during manufacture, it was found that the electrical receptacle/connectors on the bottle which commands the firing of the extinguishing agent were swapped between engines No. 1 and No. 2. This condition could affect helicopters already in service and fire extinguisher bottles of the same part number in stock as spare parts.If not corrected, an improperly wired fire extinguishing bottle might cause the extinguishing agent to be discharged toward the unselected engine when the system is activated, rather than toward the engine with the fire. This AD requires determining if each engine has the proper outlet end on the electrical receptacle/connector that attaches the firing cartridge to the fire extinguisher bottle, and if not, replacing the fire extinguisher bottle. This AD is intended to prevent the fire extinguishing agent from not discharging toward the engine with the fire, which could result in loss of the helicopter due to an engine fire. Actions and Compliance (e) Within 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) or 3 months, whichever occurs first, unless already done, do the following actions. (1) Determine whether the fire extinguishing bottle (bottle) for engines No. 1 and No. 2 have the proper outlet end on the electrical receptacle/connector, which attaches the firing cartridge to the bottle,by following steps 4. and 5. of the Compliance Instructions in Agusta Bollettino Tecnico No. 139-085, dated May 18, 2007 (BT). (2) If a bottle has an electrical receptacle/connector for the firing cartridge with an improper outlet end, before further flight, replace the bottle with a bottle that has an electrical receptacle/ connector with a proper outlet end in accordance with step 6. of the Compliance Instructions in the BT. Differences Between This AD and the MCAI AD (f) This AD uses the term "hours time-in-service'' rather than "flight hours.'' Other Information (g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, ATTN: John Strasburger, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Policy Group, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222-5167; fax (817) 222-5961, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in14 CFR 39.19. Related Information (h) MCAI Ente Nazionale Per L'Aviazione Civile Airworthiness Directive No. 2007-227, dated June 18, 2007, contains related information. Joint Aircraft System/Component (JASC) Code (i) JASC Code 2621: Fire Bottle, Fixed. Material Incorporated by Reference (j) You must use the specified portions of Agusta Bollettino Tecnico No. 139-085, dated May 18, 2007 to do the actions required. (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of this service information under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact Agusta, Via Giovanni Agusta, 520 21017 Cascina Costa di Samarate (VA), Italy, telephone 39 0331-229111, fax 39 0331-229605/222595, or at http://customersupport.agusta.com/technical_advice.php. (3) You may review copies at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas; or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/ federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.