FAA Confirms Isolair Sold Unapproved Parts Without PMA

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FAA Confirms Isolair Sold Unapproved Parts Without PMA By Mike Mitchell

		January 12, 2010 - On Monday, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a notice to advise all aircraft owners, operators, manufacturers, maintenance organizations, and parts distributors regarding the sale of unapproved High Cross Tubes that may have been purchased from Isolair, Inc. of Troutdale, Oregon that parts 9002-1 and 9002-2 were unapproved parts sold without FAA Parts Manufacturer Approval. Information received during a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Suspected Unapproved Parts investigation revealed that on August 8, 2007, the company “Isolair, Inc.” located at 1620 NW Perimeter Way, Troutdale, Oregon 97060, sold without FAA Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA), High Cross Tubes for installation on UH-1H Models of the following aircraft: Garlick Helicopters, S.M. & T. Aircraft, Global Helicopters, Northwest Rotorcraft, Hagglund Helicopters, Southwest Florida Aviation, Williams Helicopters, and Arrow Falcon or any others installed with field approvals.

The Seattle Manufacturing Inspection District Office (MIDO) was notified that two sets of High Cross Tubes, Part Number 9002 purchased from Isolair, Inc. did not conform to the approved design data. The data calls for Bell attaching hardware, and the parts received were not identified as such. The customer contacted Isolair, Inc. who informed the customer that they had approval to manufacture those parts. Suspicious of the approval for these parts, the customer returned them to Isolair, Inc. FAA investigation indicates that Isolair, Inc. sold High Cross Tubes, Part Number 9002 using unapproved parts. FAA approved design data lists the use of supports and U-bolts manufactured by Bell; however, Isolair, Inc. was producing and selling supports and U-bolts that they themselves had manufactured. Regulations require that type-certificated products conform to their type design. Aircraft owners, operators, manufacturers, maintenance organizations, and parts suppliers and distributors are encouraged to inspect their aircraft and/or aircraft parts inventory for any High Cross Tubes, part number 9002 produced and sold by Isolair, Inc. Troutdale, Oregon facility. If any of the Isolair suspect High Cross Tubes are installed on type certificated aircraft, appropriate action should be taken to remove them from service. If any suspect High Cross Tubes are found in existing inventory, it is recommended that they be quarantined to prevent installation.

You can obtain further information concerning this investigation from the FAA MIDO listed below. In addition to the above recommendations, the FAA would appreciate any information concerning the discovery of suspect Isolair High Cross Tubes from any source, the means used to identify the source, and the action taken to remove the tubes from aircraft and or parts inventories.

This notice originated from the FAA Seattle MIDO, 2500 East Valley Road, Suite C-2, Renton, WA 98057, telephone (425) 227-2170, fax (425) 227-1159.

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