Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-18427 · Fuel quantity indicating system
MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) Helicopters
This AD applies to the following helicopters, certificated in any category:
(1) Model 369A (Army OH-6A), 369H, 369HE, 369HM, 369HS, and 369D;
(2) Model 369E with a serial number (S/N) 0001E through 0620E;
(3) Model 369F and 369FF with a S/N 0001FF through 0212FF, 0600FF, 0601FF, 0602FF, and 0700FF through 0711FF and with an auxiliary fuel pump part number (P/N) 369A8143-3 installed; and
(4) Model 500N with a S/N LN001 through LN0111.
We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain MDHI Model 369A (Army OH-6A), 369H, 369HE, 369HM, 369HS, 369D, 369E, 369F, 369FF, and 500N helicopters. This AD requires inspecting the auxiliary fuel pump (fuel pump) wire routing in the left-hand fuel cell and corrective action, if necessary. This AD also requires installing a warning decal on the left-hand fuel cell access cover. This AD was prompted by accidents resulting from incorrectly positioned fuel pump wiring within the fuel tank interfering with the operation of the fuel quantity sensor float, which caused an erroneous fuel quantity indication in the cockpit. The actions are intended to detect and correct routing of the fuel pump wiring to prevent interference with the fuel quantity sensor float, an erroneous fuel quantity indication in the cockpit, and subsequent fuel exhaustion and emergency landing.
You are responsible for performing each action required by this AD within the specified compliance time unless it has already been accomplished prior to that time.
Within 100 hours time-in-service:
(1) Remove the fuel quantity sensor by following the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 2.B., of MD Helicopters Service Bulletin SB369H-255, SB369E-111, SB500N-049, SB369D-213, or SB369F-098, dated April 30, 2014, as applicable to your model helicopter. Using a mirror and light, inspect the routing of the fuel pump wire in the area depicted in Figure 2 of MD Helicopters Service Bulletin SB369H-255, SB369E-111, SB500N-049, SB369D-213, or SB369F-098, dated April 30, 2014, as applicable to your model helicopter, and determine whether the fuel pump wire is wrapped around the left-hand fuel cell fuel inlet hose assembly a minimum of one revolution.
(i) If the fuel pump wire is wrapped around the left-hand fuel cell fuel inlet hose a minimum of one revolution, install the fuel quantity sensor and perform a fuel quantity sensor functional test for proper fuel float arm function.
(ii) If the fuel pump wire is not wrapped around the left-hand fuel cell fuel inlet hose a minimum of one revolution, install the fuel quantity sensor, route the fuel pump wire around the left-hand fuel cell fuel inlet hose by following paragraphs 2.E.(1) through 2.E.(8) of MD Helicopters Service Bulletin SB369H-255, SB369E-111, SB500N-049, SB369D-213, or SB369F-098, dated April 30, 2014 as applicable to your model helicopter, and perform a fuel quantity sensor functional test for proper fuel float arm function.
(2) Install start pump warning decal, P/N MHS5861-66 or equivalent, on the left-hand fuel cell cover by following paragraph 2.G. of MD Helicopters Service Bulletin SB369H-255, SB369E-111, SB500N-049, SB369D-213, or SB369F-098, dated April 30, 2014 as applicable to your model helicopter.
