Citing the hazard of supplemental restraint devices, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered helicopter operators to end all “doors-off” operations if occupants are using restraints that cannot be released quickly in an emergency.
The FAA issued its order late last week, saying that it plans “a top-to-bottom review” of the rules governing doors-off flights in helicopters equipped with supplemental restraints.
The agency’s order came in response to a March 11 accident in which an Airbus Helicopters AS350 B2 struck the East River in New York City during an autorotation maneuver and rolled inverted. All five passengers were killed, and the pilot was injured.
The preliminary investigation of the Liberty Helicopters aerial photography flight revealed no evidence of anomalies involving the helicopter’s engine, its structure or its flight controls.
The investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was continuing. The NTSB said the helicopt…
