We had another chip light the other day, no big deal......or is it??
Our EC135 crash checks state that in the event of a TRGB chip light:
Land as soon as practicable .
As you are aware, this is a relaxed landing. This is also the reaction with the AS355 checks too. What do your crash checks stipulate?
What intrigues me is that these gearboxes can indicate 'chips' en-route to a break up, or can produce this caption if the box becomes too hot as a result of some mechanical problem. I have read previous crash reports where the initial indication was a TRGB chip light and then the gearbox let go
But the manufacturers insist on employing the land as soon as practicable option. In my humble opinion, you do this at your peril. Why would you want to fly a helicopter whose most unforgiving components are advertising some kind of distress
The pilot doesnt really know why that chip light has illuminated. 9/10 the problem is benign, but that last 1/10th leaves a lot to be desired.
I have changed our crash checks to state that in the event of a TRGB chip light: Land ASAP. Quickly but safely. To hell with the rest of the sortie, let's get her down, climb out and look at the mag plug/check for signs of overtemp????
My concern is that there are pilots out there who never challenge the crash checks thinking they are set in stone
Observations?