The CAA has issued Airworthiness Directive G-2026-0004 requiring inspection and a built-in test (BIT) of certain Techtest/HR Smith personal locator beacons (PLBs) and emergency locator transmitters (ELTs) fitted with battery pack A02787, after units were found not to operate correctly due to depleted batteries, potentially caused by incorrect attachment to survival equipment.
The affected units must be inspected and tested within six months or 440 flight hours of 15 September 2026, whichever comes first, and again after each scheduled survival equipment service and before installation.
Source: CAA.