FAA Warns About Parts Traceable to Bell 206: Registration Number N536T

The FAA has published a Safety Alert For Operators (SAFO) making allegation about parts that are purported to be traceable to a Bell 206 helicopter bearing registration number N536T.

We have no other information about the part except the SAFO, so here is the text of the SAFO:

http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/safo/all_safos
A SAFO contains important safety information and may include recommended action. Besides the specific action recommended in a SAFO, an alternative action may be as effective in addressing the safety issue named in the SAFO. The contents of this document do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way. This document is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency policies.

Subject: Suspected Unapproved Parts from a Bell Helicopter Textron Model 206B, Aircraft Registration Number N536T, Serial Number 3195.

Purpose: The purpose of this SAFO is to alert aircraft owners, operators, air agencies, parts suppliers and maintenance technicians of suspected unapproved parts represented as being removed from civil aircraft N536T, which are actually from a foreign aircraft of unknown origin.

Background: The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) South Florida Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) received a Hotline Complaint, which alleged that an individual brought a foreign registered Bell Helicopter Textron model 206B to Miami Florida prior to 2017. It is believed that the aircraft may have been registered in Venezuela under registration number YV2100. The individual then installed a data-plate, airworthiness certificate, registration certificate and registration markings from civil aircraft N536T on the Bell Helicopter Textron model 206B.

Discussion: During the investigation, the South Florida FSDO found that the alleged violator purchased the wreckage of Bell Helicopter Textron model 206B serial number 3195 registered as N536T from a salvage company in Texas in 2018; the remains are currently stored in Texas. The alleged violator then physically transferred the aircraft data-plate, airworthiness certificate and registration number from the destroyed N536T to the Bell Helicopter of unknown origin.

The alleged violator re-registered the counterfeit N536T with the FAA under their name in 2018. As a result of the investigation, the alleged violator immediately and voluntarily surrendered the aircraft data-plate, airworthiness certificate and registration certificate, however the aircraft maintenance records were not provided to the FAA.

The South Florida FSDO recently received information that the alleged violator may be selling off the parts (including life limited parts) of the counterfeit N536T as if they were parts from the destroyed N536T model 206B serial number 3195.

Recommended Action: Aircraft owners, operators, air agencies, parts suppliers and maintenance technicians are encouraged to accomplish a thorough review of their aircraft, aircraft records, and parts inventories for any article traceable to N536T. Any affected articles identified should be quarantined to prevent installation until eligibility for installation can be determined.

Contact: Questions or comments regarding this SAFO should be directed to the South Florida FSDO at (954) 641-6000.