No.

3065-I-28

Information Notice
SUBJECT: FUEL
Electrical grounding during refueling
For the attention of

Version(s)

AIRCRAFT
CONCERNED

Civil

Military

EC120

AS350

B, BA, BB, B1, B2, B3, D

AS550

L1
A2, C2, C3, U2

AS355

E, F, F1, F2, N, NP

AS555

AF, AN, SN, UF, UN, AP

EC130

B4, T2

SA365 / AS365

C, C1, C2, C3, N, N1, N2, N3

AS565

F, Fs, Fi, K, K2
MA, MB, SA, SB, UB, MBe

SA366

G1

EC155

B, B1

GA

SA330

Ba, L, Jm, S1, Sm

SA341

B, C, D, E, F, H
L, L1, M, M1, Ma

SA342

ALOUETTE II

313B, 3130, 318B, 318C, 3180, 3180B, 3180C

ALOUETTE III

316B, 316C, 3160, 319B

LAMA

315B

EC225

LP

EC725

AP

AS332

C, C1, L, L1, L2

B, B1, F1, M, M1

AS532

A2, U2, AC, AL, SC, UE, UL

EC175

EC339

KUH/Surion

BO105

C (C23, CB, CB-4, CB-5), D (DB, DBS, DB-4, DBS-4,

DBS-5), S (CS, CBS, CBS-4, CBS-5), E-4, LS A-3

CBS-5 KLH

MBB-BK117

A-1, A-3, A-4, B-1, B-2, C-1, C-2, C-2e, D-2, D-2m

D-2m

EC135

T1, T2, T2+, T3, P1, P2, P2+, P3, 635 T1, 635 T2+,
635 T3, 635 P2+, 635 P3

Revision 0

2016-09-26

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This document is available on the internet: www.airbushelicopters.com/techpub

No. 3065-I-28
Airbus Helicopters has had a long standing policy that bonding between aircraft and refueling equipment is
mandatory to ensure the equalization of electrical potentials and to dissipate any static charge generated during
refueling. This is in line with all industry practices and is not questioned.
However, the question of electrical grounding has been discussed for a long time and is regularly raised by some
authorities.
In the USA, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), in its Standard for Aircraft Fuel Servicing (reference
NFPA 407), states the following with respect to Bonding and Grounding during aircraft fueling:
"Prior to making any fueling connection to the aircraft, the fueling equipment shall be bonded to the aircraft by use
of a cable, thus providing a conductive path to equalize the potential between the fueling equipment and the
aircraft. The bond shall be maintained until fueling connections have been removed, thus allowing separated
charges that could be generated during the fueling operation to reunite. Grounding during aircraft fueling shall
not be permitted."
This recommendation against electrical grounding was based on an industry investigation that highlighted a
potential ignition risks when grounding connections were inadvertently broken during refueling.
Most locations around the world comply with these recommendations, although there are some exceptions directed
by local authorities.
Airbus Helicopters has had the global policy that bonding is mandatory and electrical grounding is only required if
local regulations impose it. Since the international regulation tendency is now clearly directed towards a prohibition
of electrical grounding, Airbus Helicopters supports this decision.
Consequently, the procedures for refueling shall be harmonized for all Airbus Helicopters aircraft with respect to
electrical grounding. Flight Manuals and Maintenance Manuals will be updated accordingly.

Revision 0

2016-09-26

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This document is available on the internet: www.airbushelicopters.com/techpub