ALERT SERVICE BULLETIN EC155

EUROCOPTER
DIRECTION TECHNIQUE SUPPORT
13725 MARIGNANE CEDEX FRANCE CIVIL VERSION(S): B,B1

ALERT SERVICE BULLETIN

No. 04A006

SUBJECT: LIMITATIONS

To Prevent any Untimely Opening of the Hoist Hook

ATA: 25

LIST OF APPROVED REVISION No. 0

REVISIONS APPROVED

Not applicable Date: December 13, 2005

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1. PLANNING INFORMATION

1.A. EFFECTIVITY

Helicopters equipped with GOODRICH (LUCAS AIR EQUIPEMENT) hoists, part numbers:
76378-xxx,
fitted with hook, part number:
710177.
The hook concerned is not fitted with a tongue locking system.

1.B. ASSOCIATED REQUIREMENTS

Not applicable.

1.C. REASON

- To prevent any risk of untimely opening of the hook which could cause the hoisted person(s) or load to
drop.

- This ALERT SERVICE BULLETIN will be the subject of Airworthiness Directive No. F-2004-046 (A) R1 to be
issued by the DGAC on behalf of the EASA.

- This ALERT SERVICE BULLETIN supersedes ALERT TELEX No. 04A006 issued on February 24, 2004
with no change to the technical content but deletes NOTE 2 in paragraph 2.B. concerning the transmission
of photos by fax.

1.D. DESCRIPTION

When hoisting an injured person on a stretcher with an Alouette III helicopter, the stretcher became
detached from the hook.
The stretcher was suspended from the hoist hook by a strap. Incorrect positioning of the strap on the hook
led to distortion of the tongue and caused the stretcher to drop.

The analysis conducted has revealed that certain attachment systems of particular shapes and dimensions
may jam on the tongue due to buttressing if they are incorrectly positioned in the hook.
An example is shown on Figures 1 and 2: Strap (A) can come into contact with hook (B) at three points (P),
and jam in this position. In this case, the loads applied to hook (B) when hoisting a person (persons), may
lead to distortion of tongue (C) and then cause the hoisted person(s) to drop.
The analysis has also shown that the risk of jamming is increased if operators use a rigid attachment, such
as a strap, between the hook and the hoisted person(s) or load, as the stiffness of the coupling contributes to
occurrence of the buttressing phenomenon on the tongue.

In view of the elements stated above, EUROCOPTER renders compliance with the measures described in
paragraph 2 mandatory.

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1.E. COMPLIANCE

Compliance with the following measures has been made mandatory since receipt of ALERT TELEX
No. 04A006 issued on February 24, 2004.

1.E.1. At the works

1.E.1.a. On aircraft: Not applicable.

1.E.1.b. On spares: Not applicable.

1.E.2. Retrofit action:

1.E.2.a. On aircraft: By the operator.

1) Comply with paragraph 2.A. on receipt of ALERT TELEX No. 04A006 issued on
February 24, 2004.
2) Comply with paragraph 2.B. within 2 months following receipt of ALERT TELEX
No. 04A006 issued on February 24, 2004.

1.E.2.b. On spares: Not applicable.

1.F. APPROVAL

Approval is limited to civil version helicopters subject to an Airworthiness Certificate.

The technical information contained in this ALERT SERVICE BULLETIN No. 04A006 Revision 0 was
approved on December 13, 2005 under the authority of EASA Design Organisation Approval No. 21J.056.

1.G. MANPOWER

Qualification: Not applicable.

Time: Not applicable.

1.H. WEIGHT AND BALANCE

Weight: Not applicable.

Moment: Not applicable.

1.I. EFFECT ON ELECTRICAL LOADS

No effect.

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1.J. SOFTWARE MODIFICATION EMBODIMENT STATE

Not applicable.

1.K. REFERENCES

Not applicable.

1.L. OTHER DOCUMENTS CONCERNED

Not applicable.

1.M. INTERCHANGEABILITY OR MIXABILITY OF PARTS

Not applicable.

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2. ACCOMPLISHMENT INSTRUCTIONS

2.A. OPERATIONAL PROCEDURE AND RESTRICTION PROHIBITING THE USE OF STRAPS

WARNING

EUROCOPTER REMINDS OPERATORS THAT THEY

MUST:

- TAKE THE USUAL PRECAUTIONS, i.e. AS SOON AS

THE HOIST CABLE IS UNDER TENSION, CHECK THAT
THE ATTACHMENT SYSTEM FOR THE HOISTED
PERSON(S) OR LOAD IS CORRECTLY POSITIONED AT
THE BOTTOM OF THE HOOK (FIGURE 4 - DETAIL C);

- COMPLY WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE FLIGHT

MANUAL;

- MAKE SURE THAT THE HOISTING ACCESSORIES AND

GRIPPING DEVICES ENSURE THE REQUIRED SAFETY
LEVEL.

Given the risk of jamming or buttressing of the strap on the tongue, EUROCOPTER renders the following
measure mandatory:

Restriction prohibiting the direct use on the hook, of interfaces similar to the interface that was used at the
time of the accident:
- Rigid straps with sleeve-attached heart-shaped eye end (Figure 3 Detail A).
- Rigid straps with spliced heart-shaped eye end (Figure 3 - Detail B).

2.B. USE OF A LOAD HANG-UP RING

See Figure 4

The following measure must be taken within the time limit specified in paragraph 1.E.2.a.2):

- Use a single oblong ring (O) directly hooked on the hoist hook. The oblong ring (O) must be qualified for
the hoisted load, and must have the following dimensions (Detail D):
a > 60 mm and b > 100 mm.

Pending compliance with this mandatory measure, EUROCOPTER recommends that you:

- avoid using several rings or a strap directly on the hoist hook (Details E and F),
- avoid using a rigid attachment directly hooked on the hoist hook,
- make sure that the interfaces that are used for hoisting operations cannot give rise to re-occurrence of the
buttressing phenomenon.

NOTE 1

Compliance with the mandatory measure specified above

prevents both the risk of buttressing and the risk of roll-out,
well known to mountaineers and persons accustomed to
hoisting loads.

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2.C. IDENTIFICATION

Record compliance with this ALERT SERVICE BULLETIN in the aircraft documents.

2.D. OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS

Not applicable.

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C
B

Figure 1

Buttressing of the strap on the tongue: Overall view

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Figure 2

Buttressing of the strap on the tongue: Contact at three points

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Figure 3

The use of these rigid straps is prohibited

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Figure 4

Hook Interfaces

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3. MATERIAL INFORMATION

3.A. MATERIAL: COST AVAILABILITY

For any information, contact the Customer Service Sales Department.

3.B. INFORMATION CONCERNING INDUSTRIAL SUPPORT

Not applicable.

3.C. MATERIAL REQUIRED FOR EACH AIRCRAFT, ENGINE/COMPONENTS

3.C.1. Component(s):

Not applicable.

3.C.2. Material to be ordered separately:

Not applicable.

The materials identified by an asterisk "*" or required for compliance with the tasks and/or work cards listed in
paragraph 1.K., can be ordered from the INTERTURBINE company,
Website: http://www.itlogistics.de
Phone: +49.41.91.809.300
AOG: +49.41.91.809.444

3.C.3. Tooling:

Not applicable.

3.D. MATERIAL REQUIRED FOR EACH SPARE PART

Not applicable.

3.E. RE-IDENTIFIED PARTS

Not applicable.

3.F. TOOLING: COST AVAILABILITY

For any information, contact the Customer Service Sales Department.

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3.G. PROCUREMENT CONDITIONS

Order the required quantity (unless otherwise specified)

from

EUROCOPTER
Etablissement de Marignane
Direction VENTES Service Client
S.V.
13725 MARIGNANE CEDEX
FRANCE

NOTE 1

For ALERT SERVICE BULLETINS, order by:

Telex: HELICOP 410 969F
Fax: +33 (0)4 42 85 99 96

NOTE 2

On the purchase order, please specify the mode of transport,

the destination and the serial numbers of the aircraft to be
modified.

4. APPENDIX

Not applicable.

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