InFO 16002: Helicopter Air Ambulance (HAA) Litter (Stretcher) System.

Distributed by: Air Transportation Division

http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/info An InFO contains valuable information for operators that should help them meet certain administrative, regulatory, or operational requirements, with relatively low urgency or impact on safety. The contents of this document do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way. This document is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency policies.

Subject: Helicopter Air Ambulance (HAA) Litter (Stretcher) System.

Purpose: This InFO serves to inform HAA operators of possible insufficient data for installed litter (stretcher) systems. These systems consist of a commercial land ambulance stretcher installed under a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) field approval. These systems include the litter locks along with the stretcher adapter plates.

Background: FAA inspectors found HAA litter (stretcher) system installations that did not receive structural testing to complete the regulatory requirements for installation approval. Replacing aircraft seats with litters is a major change to the type design defined by Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 21, § 21.93(a). FAA found installations not meeting the applicable structural requirements of § 27.785(k) or § 29.785(k). The omission of required structural data runs counter to § 21.97(a)(1) approval of a major change in type design to provide substantiating data and necessary descriptive data for inclusion in the type design.

Discussion: An FAA safety recommendation noted an HAA litter (stretcher) system with only litter locks and stretcher adapter plates field approved. Emergency Landing Conditions, General §29.561(b) requires testing the entire system: stretcher, adapter plates, litter locks, oxygen bottle attachment, and seat belts. The operator performed no structural testing of this system. The operator neglected using a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) per §21.113(b) for approval. Other operators use HAA litter (stretcher) systems with installations approved by an STC.

Recommended Action: HAA operators should review their installation approvals and remove the litter (stretcher) systems found lacking until the necessary evaluations can be performed. These types of installations require an STC. Please refer to the following website for more information (see paragraph I(1) on page 46): http://fsims.faa.gov/wdocs/Other/Major_Repair_Alteration_Job-Aid%20R5.pdf.

Contact: Questions or comments regarding this InFO should be directed to the Aircraft Maintenance Division at (202) 267-1675, or via email at 9-AWA-AFS-300-Maintenance@faa.gov.

InFOInformation for Operators

U.S. Department

of Transportation

Federal Aviation

Administration

InFO 16002

DATE: 02/09/16

Flight Standards Service

Washington, DC