Fire Protection — Hand-held Fire Extinguishers — Replacement
- Published
- Effective
- Deadline
AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.
What to do
Operators must identify and remove affected umlaut engineering GmbH Halon-free fire extinguishers from their helicopters during the next scheduled annual inspection or within four months after 12 March 2020, whichever is later. They must replace these with serviceable parts and ensure no affected parts are installed after the effective date. Compliance with the instructions in umlaut engineering GmbH Vendor Service Bulletin P3VSB000001, issue C, is required.
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2020-0039 is an airworthiness directive addressing fire protection on various helicopter models including Bell 222, 230, 430, 204, 205, 212, 214, 412, Erickson S-64F, Kamov Ka-32A11BC, and Sikorsky S-58, S-61, S-76, and S-92 helicopters. The directive focuses on the replacement of certain Halon-free hand-held fire extinguishers manufactured by umlaut engineering GmbH that have a manufacturing defect. It mandates the removal and replacement of affected fire extinguishers to ensure continued airworthiness and safety.
What changed
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2020-0039 introduces a mandatory replacement of specific umlaut engineering GmbH Halon-free hand-held fire extinguishers with defective spindle geometries that could cause the extinguishers to become inoperative after prolonged exposure to high temperatures. It prohibits installation of affected parts from the effective date and requires removal and replacement during the next scheduled annual inspection or within four months of the effective date, whichever is later.
Why it matters
This directive is critical for aviation professionals because the defective fire extinguishers may fail to operate during a cabin fire, posing a significant safety risk to occupants and the aircraft. Operators, maintenance organizations, and compliance teams must ensure timely replacement to maintain regulatory compliance and ensure the reliability of fire protection systems. Failure to comply could result in unsafe conditions and regulatory penalties.
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