Helicopter Passenger Protection Act

To amend title 49, United States Code, to require that certain rotorcraft manufactured before April 5, 2020, comply with requirements relating to fuel system crash resistance, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Helicopter Passenger Protection Act 2. Helicopter fuel system safety Section 44737 of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(2) by striking the date that is 18 months after the date of enactment of this section April 5, 2020 (2) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as subsections (c) and (d), respectively; and (3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following: (b) Prohibition for rotorcraft manufactured before April 5, 2020 (1) In general Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this subsection, a person may not operate in United States airspace a rotorcraft manufactured before April 5, 2020, for which the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration has issued a standard airworthiness certificate, unless such rotorcraft includes a fuel system that is certified by the Administrator to— (A) comply with the requirements applicable to the category of the rotorcraft under paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (5), and (6) of section 27.952(a), section 27.952(f), and section 27.963(g) (but allowing for a minimum puncture force of 250 pounds) or paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (5), and (6) of section 29.952(a), section 29.952(f), and section 29.963(b) (but allowing for a minimum puncture force of 250 pounds) of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on the date of enactment of this subsection; or (B) employ other means acceptable to the Administrator to provide an equivalent level of fuel system crash resistance. (2) Exception This subsection shall not apply to an unmanned aircraft that does not carry any occupants. . 3. Credit for improving safety of fuel systems in rotorcraft (a) In general Subpart B of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 30E. Improving safety of fuel systems in rotorcraft (a) In general There shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this chapter for the taxable year an amount equal to 10 percent of the qualified fuel system improvement costs which are paid or incurred by the taxpayer during the taxable year. (b) Definitions For purposes of this section— (1) Qualified fuel system improvement costs The term qualified fuel system improvement costs (2) Qualified changes The term qualified changes (A) changes necessary to make a fuel system compliant with the requirements under— (i) paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (5), and (6) of section 27.952(a), section 27.952(c), section 27.952(f), section 27.952(g), section 27.963(g) (but allowing for a minimum puncture force of 250 pounds if successfully drop tested in-structure), and section 27.975(b) of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations as in effect on the date of enactment of this section, or (ii) paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (5), and (6) of section 29.952(a), section 29.952(c), section 29.952(f), section 29.952(g), section 29.963(b) (but allowing for a minimum puncture force of 250 pounds if successfully drop tested in-structure), and 29.975(a)(7) of such title as so in effect, and (B) such changes as the Secretary determines are necessary to result in a fuel system that has equivalent crash resistance to a fuel system compliant with the requirements under clause (i) or (ii) of subparagraph (A). . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections for such subpart A is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 30D the following new item: Sec. 30E. Improving safety of fuel systems in rotorcraft. . (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2022.

Summary: Helicopter Passenger Protection Act This bill requires that certain rotorcraft manufactured before April 5, 2020, comply with Federal Aviation Administration requirements relating to fuel system crash resistance. The requirement does not apply to an unmanned aircraft that does not carry occupants. The bill also allows a tax credit equal to 10% of the costs of making changes to a fuel system in an emergency medical rotorcraft to comply with certain requirements for fuel system crash resistance.