Raytheon does not agree with ATSB recommendation

The ATSB/BASI report about the King Air VH-OYA incident (where the aircraft climbed to 25,000’ with the bleed air not turned on and the oxygen masks failing to drop) does not make any comment on the training of the pilot or the competence of the maintenance company. Instead the ATSB criticised the certification and manufacture of the aircraft by stating there should be an audible alert in addition to the two existing visual warnings.

The BASI web site gave the answer from Raytheon, the manufacturers of the Beech aircraft. Raytheon state the following.

“Therefore, in the case of the subject incident, even though the pressurization system was not turned on, the pilot would have been presented with a red flashing light and a red “ALT WARN” when the cabin altitude exceeded 12,500 feet. These two warnings are more than adequate and meet the certification requirements of the Model B200. There are over 1,600 Model 200 King Airs in operation worldwide with this system installed. Raytheon Aircraft does not believe it is necessary to add aural warning to an already proven visual system.”

It is interesting that the ATSB response status states, “Closed – Not Accepted.”

The original ATSB report of the incident fails to explain why the two pilots on the flight deck did not see either of the two warnings. No comment is made in relation to the angle of the sun, reflections which may have been present, nor whether the warning system was working or not.

If anyone has any information, please let me know.