FAA · Safety Alerts for Operators (SAFO)
SAFO 16003: Requirement to use Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Accepted Checklists for the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America (MHIA), Inc. MU-2B Series Airplanes.
In Brief
What It Addresses
This SAFO emphasizes the importance of MU-2B series airplane pilots, operators, and flight instructors using only FAA accepted checklists as required by Special Federal Air Regulation (SFAR) No.
Why It Matters
During a recent National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) accident investigation involving a MU-2 series airplane, an unapproved checklist was found in the airplane along with the FAA accepted checklist. Subsequent investigations lead to the discovery of unaccepted checklists close to the pilot station in three out of ten additional MU-2 airplanes.
Recommended Action
Directors of operations (part 135), training providers (parts 91, 141, and 142), program managers (part 91K) and pilots (part 91) should take appropriate action within their operation to ensure only FAA accepted checklists are used in MU-2B series airplanes. All MU-2B series airplane flight instructors, owners, operators, and pilots must be knowledgeable and fully compliant with SFAR No.
From the Document: selected source passages, quoted as written, for a quick overview.
http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/safo A SAFO contains important safety information and may include recommended action. SAFO content should be especially valuable to air carriers in meeting their statutory duty to provide service with the highest possible degree of safety in the public interest. Besides the specific action recommended in a SAFO, an alternative action may be as effective in addressing the safety issue named in the SAFO.
Subject: Requirement to use Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Accepted Checklists for the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America (MHIA), Inc. MU-2B Series Airplanes.
Purpose: This SAFO emphasizes the importance of MU-2B series airplane pilots, operators, and flight instructors using only FAA accepted checklists as required by Special Federal Air Regulation (SFAR) No. 108.
Background: During a recent National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) accident investigation involving a MU-2 series airplane, an unapproved checklist was found in the airplane along with the FAA accepted checklist. Subsequent investigations lead to the discovery of unaccepted checklists close to the pilot station in three out of ten additional MU-2 airplanes. As a result of the NTSB investigation, the Board issued Safety Recommendation A-14-98 to the FAA, and A-14-99 to MHIA, recommending the FAA and MHIA emphasize to all flight instructors, owners, operators, and pilots of MU-2B series airplanes to use FAA accepted checklists as specified in SFAR No. 108.
Discussion: The FAA accepted checklist was developed through the combined efforts of pilots, engineers, and human factors experts from the FAA and industry. The FAA, along with owners, operators, pilots, and flight instructors, share responsibility for mitigating risk associated with the use of unaccepted checklists in the operation of MU-2B series airplanes. In response to the NTSB safety recommendation A-14-99, MHIA wrote and published a Service News Letter. This Service News Letter was distributed to every owner, operator, and pilot of MU-2B series airplanes who registered with the FAA or who MHIA is aware of.
The Service News Letter reminded owners, operators and pilots of MU-2B series airplanes that, per SFAR No. 108 sections 3(g) and 7(d), operators in the United States are required to use exclusively and train only with checklists accepted by the FAA Flight Standardization Board when operating their MU-2 airplanes. The FAA strongly encourages cooperation among those involved with the operation of MU-2B series aircraft to ensure that only accepted checklists are used.
Recommended Action: Directors of operations (part 135), training providers (parts 91, 141, and 142), program managers (part 91K) and pilots (part 91) should take appropriate action within their operation to ensure only FAA accepted checklists are used in MU-2B series airplanes. All MU-2B series airplane flight instructors, owners, operators, and pilots must be knowledgeable and fully compliant with SFAR No. 108.
Contact: Questions or comments regarding this SAFO should be directed to the General Aviation and Commercial Division, AFS-800, at 202-267-1100.
SAFOSafety Alert for Operators
U.S. Department
of Transportation
Federal Aviation
Administration
SAFO 16003
DATE: 2/17/16
Flight Standards Service
Washington, DC
Distributed by: AFS-200 AFS-800
Source: Federal Aviation Administration — www.faa.gov. Reproduced from the published record; FlightPush adds formatting only.
SAFO 16003