Interesting interpretation of the Maintenance Manual, Chapter 5 Conditional Insp 5-30 (Blade strike or rotational system torque spike) clearly states, If a blade is sufficiently damaged to require replacement, main rotor hub req's over haul, how could they change a damaged blade in the field then fly home?, i've been involved in the odd one or two blade strikes on 412's some with minor blade damage but ok to fly home and others requiring blades, hub and MGB change in the field, there isn't realy a grey area here, its stuffed and you change the lot or its ok to fly, to me if the blade or blades contacted trees so hard debris smashed the windscreen and damaged the airframe and a blade has to be changed you are up for major component changes before it fly's again!
I hope i'm wrong and it was only a press Bullsh1t story (poetic licence in the news story attached by Big Mike) again , or that helo should still be in a padock 4 km from the impact with the tree waiting for major work
Last edited by Blackhawk9; 27th Dec 2008 at 11:18.