TECHTEST - HR SMITH GROUP - Equipment / Furnishings – Personal Locator Beacon / Emergency Location Transmitter – Inspection
- Published
- Effective
AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.
What to do
Affected operators and maintenance teams must inspect and perform a built-in test on all impacted PLB/ELTs within six months or 440 flight hours from the effective date of 15 September 2026. These inspections and tests must be repeated after each scheduled survival equipment servicing and before installation. Compliance can be claimed if the unit has no tethering provision and has passed a prior built-in test.
Summary
TECHTEST - HR SMITH GROUP - Equipment / Furnishings – Personal Locator Beacon / Emergency Location Transmitter – Inspection is a UK Civil Aviation Authority Airworthiness Directive (G-2026-0004) addressing the inspection and testing of specific Personal Locator Beacons (PLB) and Emergency Location Transmitters (ELT) models 500-32-2Y-G series and 500-32-2Y-H series fitted with battery pack A02787. These devices are installed on various survival equipment used across multiple aircraft types. The directive mandates inspection and built-in testing to ensure the operational reliability of these safety devices.
What changed
This new Airworthiness Directive introduces mandatory inspection and built-in testing procedures for all affected PLB/ELT units to detect battery depletion and improper installation issues. It requires repeated inspections after each scheduled survival equipment servicing and prior to installation. The directive also provides credit provisions for units installed without tethering mechanisms if a successful test was completed prior to installation.
Why it matters
This directive is critical for aviation professionals because it addresses a safety risk where PLB/ELT units may fail to operate during emergencies due to battery depletion or incorrect installation. Operators and maintenance organizations must ensure compliance to maintain aircraft airworthiness and passenger safety. Failure to comply could result in non-operational emergency location transmitters, compromising survival chances in an emergency.
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