Safety Notice SN013 – Ballast Security
NOTICE TO ALL SAFARI OWNERS REGARDING SECURE ATTACHMENT OF BALLAST IN TAILBOOM
It is critical that the ballast be positively secured when placed in the carrier in the tail boom. The current Safari Kit supplies a Quick Lock Pin which is adequate to secure the ballast if it and the carrier are in good working order.
The pin should remain in place if the release mechanism is not actuated. The size of the pin hole in the carrier should be such that the retaining mechanism can function correctly. Please examine whatever method is in use on your helicopter to be certain it is functioning properly, and that there is no possibility of the ballast being free to vibrate out of the carrier.
A recent accident in the Czech Republic appears to have been caused by the loss of the ballast in flight. An abrupt change in the attitude of the helicopter may have resulted in a loss of control.
There have been no other reports of similar incidents.
The method of attaching the ballast to the tail boom is effective, but it must be carefully verified as part of every pre-flight inspection. To this end, the Safari Flight Manual (POH) has been updated to include a check of the ballast for security during pre-flight checks.