Senate Bill S4640

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S4640

SPONSOR: KENNEDY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the general business law, in relation to requiring
certain notices to be provided when selling a helicopter

 
PURPOSE:

This legislation would require those who sell helicopters in New York
State to provide the purchaser with a notice that contains all the inci-
dents reports filed with the National Transportation Safety Board or the
Federal Aviation Administration involving the same make and model within
the past ten years.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section one adds a new section to the general business law that would
require those who sell helicopters in New York State to provide the
purchaser with a notice that contains all the incidents reports filed
with the National Transportation Safety Board or the Federal Aviation
              

Administration involving the same make and model, or a substantially
similar model, within the past ten years.

Section two establishes the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

This bill aims to make those who decide to purchase helicopters in New
York State safer. On January 9th, 2020, Mark Croce and Michael Capriotto
lost their lives in a tragic helicopter accident when operating the
Robinson R44, the world's best-selling civilian helicopter.

While the helicopter was new, with records showing the Robinson R66
Turbine helicopter was both built and purchased in 2019, according to
the report issued by the National Transportation Safety Board the heli-
copter started falling apart in the sky before it crashed. The report
stated that the . helicopter experienced an "in-flight break-up" before
crashing.

The Robinson R44 has been involved in 42 fatal crashes in the U.S.  From
2006 to 2016, more than any other civilian helicopter, according to an
analysis of National Transportation Safety Board accident reports.
According to the LA Times in-depth report on the Robinson R44, that
translates to 1.6 deadly accidents per 100,000 hours flown a rate nearly
50% higher than any other of the dozen most common civilian models whose
flight hours are tracked by the Federal Aviation Administration. While
the FAA determines the course of action moving forward, they have been
slow to address certain features that many experts believe contributed
to accidents.

Many survivors and their families were completely unaware of these safe-
ty issues. This bill aims to make sure that consumers are aware of any
safety issues with helicopters they purchase within New York State and
that they can make an informed decision. This legislation will make sure
consumers are aware, prior to an accident, of any potential safety
issues.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2021-22: S.3911 Referred to Transportation

2019-2020: S.8157 Referred to Transportation

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
The thirtieth day after it shall have become a law