FAA Oxygen Cylinder Warning

Filed in archive Aviation News on December 14, 2006

This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) alerts you, owners and operators of Airbus Model A300 Series Aircraft; Dassault Aviation Models Mystere-Falcon 20, Mystere-Falcon 50, Falcon 200 and Falcon 900 Aircraft; Pilatus Aircraft, Model PC-6 Aircraft, and Eurocopter Models AS 350 B3 and SA 315 B Helicopters equipped with optional oxygen reserve cylinders of EASA-issued Emergency Airworthiness Directive No. 2006-0286-E,
dated September 21, 2006. This SAIB applies to Oxygen Reserve Cylinder having part numbers (PN) GLD series, GLF series, PC2300 and SLF 300.

The manufacturer of the Oxygen cylinders INTERTECHNIQUE, Zodiac Aircraft Systems has informed EASA and Eurocopter that there is a risk of high-pressure oxygen cylinder tearing with sudden emptying. These oxygen reserve cylinders are used for missions at high altitudes or to ensure respiratory aid for passengers feeling sick. The material characteristics of the Aluminum Alloy 5283 alloy from which the cylinder shells are manufactured may deteriorate in the course of time and may possibly lead these oxygen cylinders to tear and abruptly vent onboard an aircraft.

The INTERTECHNIQUE, Zodiac Aircraft Systems has issued service bulletin GLD/GLF-35-150, dated September 20, 2006. Eurocopter has issued Emergency Alert Service Bulletins (EASB) 05.00.54 and 05.42 dated August 16, 2006. This EASB applies to Eurocopter Helicopter Models AS 350B3 and SA 315 B equipped with oxygen cylinders, P/N GLF 311-1, GLF312, GLF 313, GLF 316, GLF 514 or GLD511.

The Service Bulletin and the EASB should be followed to prevent rupture of the oxygen cylinders and gives information on how to identify the date of manufacture of the cylinder shell and instructions for removal and emptying the cylinders. Cylinder shells manufactured more than 25 years ago and installed on aircraft operating in normal climatic conditions, and cylinders manufactured more that 15 year ago and installed on aircraft operating in salt-laden atmospheric conditions (offshore operations) should be removed and emptied according to the EASB.

For Service Bulletin and Technical Information contact:

Intertechnique, Zodiac Aircraft Systems,
61 rue Pierre Curie BP1,
78373 Plaisir Cedex France;
Tel +33 (0)1-3054-8200
email:apyrault@intertechnique.zodia.com

For EASB contact American Eurocopter:
Technical Support 1-800-232-0323 or
http://www.eurocopterusa.com/

For Further Information contact:
Mr. Uday Garadi, Aerospace Engineer, FAA
Rotorcraft Directorate, ASW-111,
Fort Worth, TX-76193,
email: uday.garadi@faa.gov
phone: (817) 222-5123; fax: (817) 222-5961.

All data provided by the FAA.