EC-130 B4 12 year

[Nomad110]

Hey all,

I was just wondering if anyone has undergone a 12 year on an EC-130? We are about half way through ours, have completed the complete tear down and are in the inspection portion now. Honestly it has been a great experience so far. The aircraft has been taken great care of throughout it's life with lots of new components which likely helps; so far no surprises. 3 blades on the fenestron need replacing and I think we are going to go ahead and replace them all for new. I don't want to speculate on cost until we are done but other planned items are going to be, new avionics, new paint, and new interior. Anyone else?

Cheers!

[HeliHenri]

new avionics

Hello Nomad110,
Are uou talking about something like that ? :


http://nsa32.casimages.com/img/2013/02/12/130212090046149989.jpg (http://www.casimages.com/img.php?i=130212090046149989.jpg)

[Nomad110]

Yes I've seen this before. I have to ask, how did you/they (if this isn't your aircraft) install the GTN setup without STC approval?

[Dynamic Component]

See.......helicopter pilots don't get paid enough. We can't even afford shoe laces...:}

[helihub]

Nomad110 - the Garmin 500H has been STC'd in the EC130 since at least September 2010 - see Rotorcraft Services Group and Garmin team to STC Garmin G500H for EC130, AS350 (http://helihub.com/2010/09/30/rotorcraft-services-group-and-garmin-team-to-stc-garmin-g500h-for-ec130-as350/)

and we can see from the panel that HeliHenri's aircraft is N130AK, and Sarasota Avionics have a "panel gallery" of this very helicopter (including the missing-shoelaces shot!) here (http://sarasotaavionics.com/panel-gallery/2012-eurocopter-ec130b4)

Canadian STC was added in May 2011 (Canada approves Garmin’s G500H in Eurocopter AS350 and EC130)

[Nomad110]

The G500H is not what I am referring to in this shot. I know it has STC's already. I am talking about the GTN 650 and 750 touchscreen units? Those are not STC'd in any helicopter yet begging the question....

[Nomad110]

Actually Helihub may have answered the question. That link over to Sarasota's site (Sarasota Avionics Aircraft Panel Gallery (http://sarasotaavionics.com/panel-gallery/2012-eurocopter-ec130b4)) shows the helicopter in Brazil. Maybe what happened is that the install happened in Florida but the helicopter was then sent directly down to South America for it's real home. Could you get around STCs that way? Either way it seems that they had some kind if special arrangement which I don't have. I think I am going to do mine in two stages...G500H and other stuff first and then GTN stuff later once the STC comes out. Fingers crossed for an announcement at Heli Expo for a blanket helicopter approval...if only the FAA worked that way.

[krypton_john]

HeliHenri, that panel is PPRuNe porn!

[HeliHenri]

HeliHenri, that panel is PPRuNe porn!

You're right K_J !

This one lot less ... ;)

http://nsa31.casimages.com/img/2013/02/13/130213102842529747.gif (http://www.casimages.com/img.php?i=130213102842529747.gif)