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Helicopter pilot reports installing a photo seat in his aircraft after removing it from an identical aircraft under going maintenance. This practice is called into question by the FAA during a ramp inspection as the FAA form 337 is applicable only to the aircraft it was originally issued for.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 853922 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200909 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601-1200 |
| Environment | |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Helicopter |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Parked |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Aircraft Documentation |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Pilot Flying Single Pilot |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Flight Instructor |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 40 Flight Crew Total 1250 Flight Crew Type 350 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Deviation - Procedural FAR Deviation - Procedural Weight And Balance |
Narrative:
The company I was flying for has two helicopters of the same make and model. One is down for maintenance and the other was operational. We had a photo flight and I removed a photo seat from the first aircraft and installed it in the second aircraft under the direction of the company. The FAA inspected the aircraft on the ramp and noticed the documentation was not in the aircraft needed to be in compliance for the operation. I didn't know the 337 for the seat was specific to only the first ship. After the operation it was explained to me that I didn't have a correct weight and balance and a sign off for the equipment change in the second helicopter in order to be in compliance. I made the mistake of not knowing the proper procedures for using the equipment on each helicopter. I assumed that because the seat was in compliance on one helicopter that it was good on the other helicopter. I've since learned that the rules have changed on field approvals and the second helicopter was not approved for that seat. I cannot take for granted that just because someone says it's ok; it is ok - I have learned a valuable lesson.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: Helicopter pilot reports installing a photo seat in his aircraft after removing it from an identical aircraft under going maintenance. This practice is called into question by the FAA during a ramp inspection as the FAA form 337 is applicable only to the aircraft it was originally issued for.
Narrative: The company I was flying for has two helicopters of the same make and model. One is down for maintenance and the other was operational. We had a photo flight and I removed a photo seat from the first aircraft and installed it in the second aircraft under the direction of the company. The FAA inspected the aircraft on the ramp and noticed the documentation was not in the aircraft needed to be in compliance for the operation. I didn't know the 337 for the seat was specific to only the first ship. After the operation it was explained to me that I didn't have a correct weight and balance and a sign off for the equipment change in the second helicopter in order to be in compliance. I made the mistake of not knowing the proper procedures for using the equipment on each helicopter. I assumed that because the seat was in compliance on one helicopter that it was good on the other helicopter. I've since learned that the rules have changed on field approvals and the second helicopter was not approved for that seat. I cannot take for granted that just because someone says it's OK; it is OK - I have learned a valuable lesson.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.