Originally Posted by
Cyclic Hotline
The NH-90 offers both a GE T700 or Safran RTM 322 engine option. Is there any correlation between powerplant installation and overall reliability?
Not sure, but the Australian MRH-90 version had an early engine issue which is reported on Wikipedia as follows: "On 20 April 2010, a MRH-90 suffered a single engine failure near Adelaide, landing safely at RAAF Base Edinburgh, with NHIndustries personnel investigating the cause. On 18 May, the ADF announced that the MRH-90 fleet was grounded due to engine issues since the April incident. The cause of the failure was determined to be the compressor blade contacting the engine casing, leading to new preventative inspections; flights resumed in July 2010."
All the Australian MRH-90s used the (then) Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322-01/9.
The New Zealand Defence Force NH90's are also fitted with RTM322 but those helicopters seem to be achieving satisfactory availability.
On the Wikipedia entry for the NH90, the only operator for which the General Electric (CT7-8F) engines are specifically mentioned is Spain.