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Output Number
R20050014
Approval Date
Published Date Time
Recommendation type
Recommendation
Mode
Aviation
Date released

Safety Recommendation

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau recommends that the Civil Aviation Safety Authority alert Australian operators of Kawasaki BK117 B-2 helicopter to the discrepancy with respect to the procedure for adjusting the collective pitch settings in the maintenance manual.

Organisation Response
Date Received
Organisation
CASA
Response Text

On 22 December 2006, CASA wrote to all Kawasaki BK 117 B-2
owners and operators and recommended that pending advice from the
manufacturer, Australian operators of the BK 117 B-2 should:

  • reduce expose to conditions of high density altitude and
    atmospheric turbulence, especially if the aircraft is at high-gross
    weight; and
  • if such conditions are encountered, reduce airspeed and torque
    settings while hand flying the aircraft with SAS [Stability
    Augmentation System] mode engaged.

In addition to this advice, CASA provided owners and operators
with an overview of the incident involving VH-IME, which occurred
on 7 December 2005 (occurrence 200506614). The Authority's
correspondence also noted that according to the ATSB report,
Kawasaki Heavy Industries would amend the BK 117 B-2 maintenance
manual.