Safety and Operational Directive No. 16/05616-5 – Airbus Helicopters EC225LP and AS332L2 – Limitation of operations in the Kingdom of Norway due to fatal accident on the 29th of April 2016

This Safety and Operational Directive contains mandatory action that is required to restore an acceptable level of safety. It is issued under § 4-1 and § 9-1 of the Aviation Act (luftfartsloven) and in accordance with regulation (EC) No 216/2008 article 14.1.

1. Introduction

This Safety and Operational Directive is applicable to operators conducting public transport helicopter operations or commercial air transport operations in the jurisdiction of the Kingdom of Norway.

Recipients must ensure that this Directive is copied to all members of their staff who need to take appropriate action or who may have an interest in the information, including any «in-house» or contracted maintenance organisation and relevant outside contractors.

This Safety and Operational Directive supersedes SAFETY DIRECTIVE No. 16/05616-1 and extends the applicability of measures put in place on 29 April 2016 to Airbus Helicopters AS332L2 helicopters.

2. Compliance/action to be taken

registered in the Kingdom of Norway or flying in the Kingdom of Norway or in the neighborhood of an offshore location

to comply with the requirements set forth in paragraph 2.2 and 2.3.

Operators must not conduct any public transport flight or a commercial air transport operation with an Airbus Helicopters EC225LP or AS332L2 helicopter.

Paragraph 2.2 does not apply to any Search and Rescue (SAR) flights.

Operators must seek approval from the Civil Aviation Authority for necessary training in the helicopter in the SAR role. Such approval shall be based on an assessment of the content and extent of the Operators SAR training programme.

an offshore installation or a renewable energy installation or floating structures or vessels.

3. Reason

This Safety and Operational Directive is made in the interest of assuring safe operations following a fatal accident with an Airbus Helicopters EC225LP on the 29 April 2016.

As a result of a meeting between the UK Civil Aviation Authority and Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority on 10th May 2016 it was jointly agreed that both National Aviation Authorities will extend the scope of their Airbus Helicopters EC225LP Safety Directives to include the earlier AS332L2 derivative.

The decision to extend the scope of the Safety Directive is based upon the similarities of the two aircraft types.

4. Notifications and queries

Notifications and queries should be sent to Luftfartstilsynet at [email protected], and referring to Case 16/05616.

5. Entry into force and cancellation

This Safety and Operational Directive shall enter into force on 11 May 2016 18:00 hrs local time and will remain in force until revoked by the Civil Aviation Authority. At the same time, Regulation 29 April 2016 No 443 is cancelled.