FAA Dismisses Appeal Seeking Bell 429 Weight Increase

On October 17 the FAA formally rejected Bell Helicopter’s appeal of a 2012 agency decision denying the company a type certification exemption to the 7,000-pound maximum weight limit under FAR Part 27 (normal-category rotorcraft) for the Bell 429 light twin. Bell certified the helicopter under Part 27 in 2009 and has delivered more than 200 since.

Gaining the Part 27 exemption, which has been approved by Transport Canada and 17 other national aviation authorities, was viewed as a key to penetrating the U.S. medevac market more deeply by boosting the 429’s IFR range and patient payload capacity.

“The FAA’s decision to deny our request to certify the Bell 429 at 7,500 pounds in the U.S. is disappointing,” Bell said in a statement. “We believe the decision does not reflect the capabilities of the aircraft or the positive contribution to public safety of the Bell 429 with an additional 500 pounds.”

In denying Bell’s petition, the FAA dismissed comments of proponents, rejected allegations that the original denial was politically motivated and reiterated that granting the exemption would give Bell an unfair competitive advantage and has the potential to compromise safety. The FAA also faulted Bell for not pursuing 429 certification under the more stringent Part 29 standards and was unmoved by Bell’s claims that the aircraft is mainly Part 29 compliant.