Originally Posted by
Cows getting bigger
Silly old me, I thought we were in the business of reducing/mitigating risk and not just accepting the status quo. Is a split pin and a locking wire really the best way? Clearly someone has recognised the importance of this nut. Perhaps the whole linkage could be redesigned.
What do you think holds on the complete main rotor on a Jetranger? One big nut (not self locking) and two pieces of lock wire. THAT IS IT. And the fact that the nut is effing tight.
So how, pray tell, would you redesign it? Make the whole helicopter one piece???? There are only three methods that are easily used to lock a nut. Lockwire, split pin and tab washer. For critical components you should use two of the three or repeat one twice. Although it you use a self locking nut you can legally get away with only one.
And go.......