49 U.S.C. § 44737 — Helicopter fuel system safety
submitted 8 years ago by Pub. L. 115-254 to r/title-49-TRANSPORTATION · 391 words · no verdicts yet
Newer helicopters must have crash-resistant fuel systems, with some exceptions. The FAA must speed up approval of designs that improve crash safety. This rule does not apply to military helicopters or certain test and experimental aircraft.
(a) Prohibition. (1) In general: nobody may fly a "covered helicopter" in U.S. airspace unless its design is certified by the FAA Administrator to either (A) meet detailed fuel-system crash-resistance standards listed in specific FAA regulations (parts 27 and 29 of title 14), including a rule allowing a minimum puncture force of 250 pounds if a component passes an in-structure drop test, or (B) use some other method the Administrator accepts as giving an equal level of crash resistance. (2) "Covered helicopter" means a helicopter that isn't already required to meet those same regulations, and whose manufacture the Administrator determines was finished at least 18 months after this section became law.
(b) Administrative Provisions. The Administrator must (1) speed up certifying and approving U.S. and foreign helicopter designs and retrofit kits that make fuel systems safer in a crash, and (2) within 180 days of enactment, and regularly after that, issue a bulletin telling helicopter owners and operators about available crashworthiness upgrades and urging them to install those upgrades as soon as they can.
(c) Rule of Construction. Nothing in this section changes how the Department of Defense operates its helicopters.
(d) Exception. A helicopter flying under an experimental certificate (14 C.F.R. § 21.191) or a Special Flight Permit (14 C.F.R. § 21.197) does not have to follow this section.
A person may not operate a covered helicopter in United States airspace unless the design of the helicopter is certified by the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to—
comply with the requirements applicable to the category of the helicopter under paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (5), and (6) of section 27.952(a), section 27.952(c), section 27.952(f), section 27.952(g), section 27.963(g) (but allowing for a minimum puncture force of 250 pounds if successfully drop tested in-structure), and section 27.975(b) or paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (5), and (6) of section 29.952(a), section 29.952(c), section 29.952(f), section 29.952(g), section 29.963(b) (but allowing for a minimum puncture force of 250 pounds if successfully drop tested in-structure), and 29.975(a)(7) of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date of enactment of this section; or
employ other means acceptable to the Administrator to provide an equivalent level of fuel system crash resistance.
In this subsection, the term “covered helicopter” means a helicopter not otherwise required to comply with section 27.952, section 27.963, and section 27.975, or section 29.952, section 29.963, and section 29.975 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations as in effect on the date of enactment of this section for which manufacture was completed, as determined by the Administrator, on or after the date that is 18 months after the date of enactment of this section.
The Administrator shall—
expedite the certification and validation of United States and foreign type designs and retrofit kits that improve fuel system crashworthiness; and
not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, and periodically thereafter, issue a bulletin to—
inform helicopter owners and operators of available modifications to improve fuel system crashworthiness; and
urge that such modifications be installed as soon as practicable.
Nothing in this section may be construed to affect the operation of a helicopter by the Department of Defense.
A helicopter issued an experimental certificate under section 21.191 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations), or operating under a Special Flight Permit issued under section 21.197 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations), is excepted from the requirements of this section.
Source credit: (Added Pub. L. 115–254, div. B, title III, § 317(a), Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3268; amended Pub. L. 118–63, title VIII, § 825, May 16, 2024, 138 Stat. 1332.)
- 2018Enacted · Pub. L. 115-254 · 132 Stat. 3268
- 2024Amended · Pub. L. 118-63 · 138 Stat. 1332
A history note hasn’t been published yet. The record shows enactment by Pub. L. 115-254 on 2018-10-05.
all 0 arguments · sorted by: best
no arguments yet — make the first case