NTSB questions FAA’s action on ECi cylinders

The NTSB has told the FAA it does “not understand the foreseeable safety benefit of the FAA’s proposed action” regarding specific parts of the agency’s NPRM on ECi cylinder assemblies. In its four-page submission, the NTSB cites prior ADs and Mandatory Service Bulletins and suggests that the FAA exclude from the NPRM certain cylinder assemblies (identified by serial number) or take action other than that prescribed by the NPRM, according to an AVweb report, which notes: “In fact, the NTSB directly states that the FAA’s proposed rule ‘would affect many more cylinder assemblies than the NTSB included in our recommendation letter.’”