Dear MRA colleagues:
For those of you that operate in helicopter winching or longline environments, I want to pass along a relatively recent FAA Safety Alert for Operators (SAFO). Many have passed along information about this risk, but I thought I’d forward the FAA SAFO as well.
An FAA SAFO is an informational alert that educates and makes recommendations to the aviation community, and may contain recommended actions.
This latest SAFO pertains to the possibility of D-ring Reversal or Dynamic Rollout During Winching and Longline Operations. D-ring reversal has directly contributed to several fatal accidents. Under certain load situations,
the spring-loaded keeper allows the ring to fall free from the hook, thereby inadvertently releasing the occupant or load.
The image below is pasted from the SAFO. If you operate in winching or longline environments, please read carefully the attached SAFO.
Charley Shimanski
Air Rescue Commission Delegate; International Commission for Alpine Rescue
Past President and Education Director; Mountain Rescue Association
67 Pauls Road
Evergreen, CO 80439
303-909-9348 (cell 24/7)
Charley.Shimanski@gmail.com