Rotor Torque

The Sea Kings were acquired in the mid 1970s. The life extension programme will now keep them in service until 2008, delaying the need for a decision on a replacement.

The Navy’s Seahawks also benefit with funding for a FLIR (Forward Looking InfraRed) pod and ESM (electronic support measures). These additions will greatly improve the Seahawks’ detection (particularly at night) and surveillance abilities.

The Army meanwhile will get a full motion high fidelity flight simulator. The simulator will be used for basic, operational and continuation training.

Robinson Angry At Ntsb Calls For R44 Review

Robinson has responded angrily to the US National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) recommendation that the FAA conduct a Special Certification Review of the R44 helicopter.

The NTSB called on the FAA to focus in particular on the R44’s cyclic control system following three early crashes of the newly certificated aircraft. The NTSB’s calls are based on an investigation it conducted into the crash of an R44 in July last year in California, where it found that fatigue failure of the cyclic control stick assembly was a possible cause. Investigations revealed that possible fatigue cracking in the cyclic stick led to separation of the cyclic stick box structure.

The Special Certification Review would uncover oversights in the R44’s design and certification process. Flight testing has begun of a Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk fitted with a newly developed composite rotor blade. The new blade has a 16% wider chord and an angled anhedral tip to increase hover performance by avoiding vortices created by the preceding blade. Improvements in payload, speed and manoeuvrability are expected and the blade could go on Black Hawks from 1997. Flight testing will continue for several months. In other Black Hawk news, this year’s Federal Budget has finally provided funding for a Black Hawk simulator for the Army (refer text). Pictured is a US Air Force Black Hawk.

Robinson boss Frank Robinson has slammed the calls saying the cause of the California crash was undeterminable as the aircraft was destroyed in the ensuing fire, and that his company had strengthened the R44’s controls as a precaution against failures. He noted that the NTSB’s call for an investigation followed pressure from a US Congressman who represents Uni West Aviation, the company that operated the R44 in question. Uni West is suing Robinson.

Thus far Robinson has received over 180 orders for the piston engined R44. Despite its success the company is not openly marketing the type in the USA because of the high cost of insurance in view of the USA’s harsh product liability laws. An Airtest on the R44 appears on p63 of our May ’94 issue.

Turbine Failures Ground Tiger

A spate of turbine blade loss incidents has forced Eurocopter to modify the Tiger attack helicopter’s MTR 390 turboshafts. Following three blade failures, the government body overseeing development of the Tiger demanded Eurocopter and the MTR 390’s manufacturer MTU modify the engine as soon as possible. The three Tiger prototypes and Panther engine testbed were grounded while work was carried out.

A shroud failure in the power turbine caused the blade loss, the failure being attributed to powerful torsional oscillation. The fix has involved a lighter shroud and less stator vanes ahead of the power turbine.

First Australian Notar Helo Delivered

Rod and Steve Peachey of Gold Coast based earthmoving, construction and development company Peachey Constructions have become the first Australian customers for the McDonnell Douglas Helicopters MD 520 Notar.

The Peacheys have taken delivery of the demonstrator of Australian and New Zealand distributors for McDonnell Douglas Helicopters Flightline Aviation. This helo had in fact made a successful demonstration tour along the east coast of Australia late last year, and was the subject of an Airtest on p62 of our March issue. Now registered VH-NTR, the MD 520N was handed over to its new owners in early May. The MD 520N will be used for a number of utility tasks including powerline surveying and stringing.

Blue Mountains Fly Neighbourly Trial Extended

A meeting to review the Blue Mountains National Park Fly Neighbourly Agreement (FNA) agreed to extend the three month trial a further three months to August 2.

Representatives of the CAA, Blue Mountains City Council, NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service, Dept of Defence, NSW Environment Protection Agency, the NSW Regional Airspace Users Advisory Committee, AOPA, HAA, Blue Mountains Helicopters, the Greater Blue Mountains National Park Advisory Committee, the operators of Katoomba Airport and the independent National Parks Association met to review the FNA agreement and to study noise level measurements.

The previous agreement was due to expire on May 2. The Fly Neighbourly Agreement seeks to promote a voluntary code of practice to foster good relations between aviation operators and environmental concerns. The voluntary and self regulated minimum altitude is 1000ft above the park floor. A similar FNA was recently implemented permanently over the Kakadu National Park, which has a minimum altitude of 2000ft above the park surface.

South Korea To Build Mil Helo

South Korea’s Daewoo Heavy Industries and Kazan are studying coproduction of a westernised version of the Mk.30, a version of Mil’s Mi-17 medium lift helo.

The deal would see the Mk.30 produced in Korea initially for domestic markets, for which Daewoo has forecast a demand for around 30 units; Daewoo’s changes to the Mk.30 design would include new western avionics. A number of firms are bidding for avionics integration; the winning firm would become responsible for modifications needed to obtain FAA and JAA certification.

The Kazan Mk.30 is based on the Mil Mi-17 and has a revised 28 seat interior, new nose section and tail fin, while the two 2250shp (1678kW) Klimov TV3-117VM turboshafts are retained. The first prototype is due to fly in Russia in November this year.

Briefs

The Republic of Singapore Air Force plans to order six Boeing CH-47D Chinooks for search and rescue, support of the Civil Aviation Authority and various airlifting tasks.

The RACQ Careflight unit on the Gold Coast was presented with a $150,000 cheque as part of the grant funding from the Queensland government to the organisation recently. RACQ Careflight relies on sponsorship, donations and grants for funding.

Southern Peninsula Rescue Service is relying upon a Victorian State Government agreement that it will fund a replacement helicopter following the crash of the service’s JetRanger earlier this year (refer p88 June ’94 AA). The helicopter was not privately insured but there is an arrangement with the Victorian Treasury Department to replace the helicopter, as it is classified the same as government department equipment.

Aviation Safety Training Australasia is conducting a number of one day underwater escape training courses this year. Contact Wayne Vardanega on (02) 669 6678 for details.