EASA SIB 2019-16R1: umlaut engineering GmbH - Hand-operated Fire Extinguishers — Removal from Service

What to do

Aircraft owners, operators, maintenance organizations, and manufacturers should check if any affected umlaut engineering GmbH fire extinguishers with the specified part numbers and manufacturing dates are installed or held in inventory. If found, these extinguishers should be removed from service immediately. No corrective repair actions are currently available, and the recommendations are advisory rather than mandatory.

Summary

EASA Safety Information Bulletin 2019-16R1 is an airworthiness bulletin addressing hand-operated Halon-free fire extinguishers manufactured by umlaut engineering GmbH (formerly P3 Engineering GmbH) with part numbers P3APP003010A and P3APP003010C. These extinguishers, produced between March and July 2019, are installed on various aircraft including Airbus A318, A319, A320, A321, A350, ATR 72, and several Airbus and Leonardo helicopters. The bulletin informs about a manufacturing defect that may cause the extinguishers to become inoperative under certain temperature conditions.

What changed

This revision updates the original EASA SIB 2019-16 issued on 27 November 2019 by referencing issue C of the umlaut engineering GmbH Vendor Service Bulletin, which includes an updated list of affected serial numbers. It expands the scope of affected fire extinguishers and provides the latest information on the manufacturing defect. No new corrective actions are introduced at this time.

Why it matters

The bulletin highlights a potential safety risk where fire extinguishers may fail due to spindle seizure after exposure to high temperatures, which could compromise fire suppression capability in critical situations. Aviation professionals, including operators and maintenance organizations, need to be aware of this issue to ensure affected extinguishers are identified and removed from service to maintain aircraft safety and regulatory compliance. Understanding this risk helps in planning maintenance and inventory management.