Additional Harness Systems that Allow for Rapid Egress. Source: NTSB.

Executive Summary:

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is providing the following information to urge the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to take immediate action on this urgent safety recommendation to ensure that, if a harness system is used for an open-door passenger flight, it allows for rapid egress from the aircraft in the event of an emergency. This recommendation is derived from our ongoing investigation of a fatal accident involving an Airbus Helicopters AS350B2 helicopter, N350LH, that impacted the East River during an autorotation after a loss of engine power; the helicopter subsequently rolled inverted. The NTSB is issuing one urgent safety recommendation to the FAA.

To the Federal Aviation Administration:

Prohibit all open-door commercial passenger-carrying aircraft flights that use passenger harness systems, unless the harness system allows passengers to rapidly release the harness with minimal difficulty and without having to cut or forcefully remove the harness.

Picture: Bloomberg.