MRH 90s grounded after engine failure

“An Aircraft Incident Investigation Team has been investigating the incident with support provided by the DSTO and the engine manufacturer and aircraft manufacturers,” a Defence spokesman told Australian Aviation in a written statement on June 9. “This is a complex investigation, and the precise cause of the failure has not yet been identified. Detailed investigation and analysis is continuing. ” The engine failure was reported to have been a second stage compressor fatigue failure in the left engine of aircraft A40- 011, the most recent of the 11 MRH 90s delivered to the joint Army and Navy development unit based at Townsville. The aircraft was operating “about 30 minutes northeast” of Edinburgh, and the crew was able to maintain control and return safely to Edinburgh. While the engine failure was initially contained within the engine casing, damaged components were safely ejected out the exhaust causing only minor damage to the aircraft’s fuselage.

The aircraft was one of five MRHs deployed to RAAF Edinburgh for an extended period to take advantage of better weather and flying conditions, to introduce trainee crews to unfamiliar airspace, and to allow Aerospace Operational Support Group test pilots and ground crews to gain experience on the type.

Speaking at the Heli-Pacific conference on the Gold Coast in late May, the coordinator of the MRH 90 Introduction into Service Task Group and commanding officer designate of 808SQN, CDR Tim Leonard, said the engine failure was one of a number of issues the program had experienced during its development.

“Some of the immediate challenges we face are an insufficient rate of effort to support introduction into service activities,” he said. “This has been due to a number or reasons. There has been poor system reliability or design on items that include cabin floors, windscreens, main gearbox, machine gun mounts and recently, of course, the engines. The inconsistent supply chain has meant that aircraft often spend longer on the ground than we would like while we wait for spare parts. This inconsistency in rate of effort has hampered our ability to train the instructors required to grow the best of the capability. ” There are currently eight pilots and 11 aircrewmen qualified on the MRH, although due to certification delays the range of tasks they can perform and the environments in which they can fly is limited. A further 12 pilots and four aircrewmen are in the “training pipeline,” either at Townsville where academic training and flying training are conducted, or in pilot simulator training in France. Certainly, the extended grounding is likely to have an adverse affect on the ADF’s training plans, although the ADF was reluctant to detail how just yet.

“Until the technical investigation on the cause of the engine failure is complete, the effect on the training program and project schedule cannot be fully assessed,” the Defence spokesman said. “The rate of flying, once it resumes, will depend on rectification (if required). Some currency training will be conducted prior to resuming the MRH 90 training program. Army and Navy are closely managing the throughput of aircrew and technician trainees into the MRH training pipeline.

The suspension of MRH 90 flying will have some impact on training, but many of the crews are brought from current aircraft flown by Navy and Army, which are continuing flying operations.

“The degree of impact can only be determined once flying operations resume, which will only be done when it is considered safe and appropriate to do so. DMO, Army and Navy are working on mechanisms to minimise this schedule impact. ” But importantly, the ADF believes that none of these issues are insurmountable, with most of the issues outlined by CDR Leonard reportedly having been or in the process of being addressed via a product improvement program.

“Until the length of the flying suspension is known, any impact on the IOC dates of the MRH 90 cannot be accurately assessed. ” Defence said. “Army’s A Squadron, 5th Aviation Regiment in Townsville is currently operating the MRH 90 for training, test and development, and Navy’s 808 Squadron is planned to stand-up with MRH 90 aircraft in early 2011. ” The ADF has ordered a total of 46 MRH 90 helicopters, at least 40 of which will be assembled at Brisbane by local Eurocopter subsidiary Australian Aerospace. The NH 90 NFH, which retains roughly 80 per cent commonality with the MRH 90 including its engines, is also one of two contenders for Air 9000 Phase 8, along with the Lockheed Martin/ Sikorsky MH-60R ‘Romeo’.