As I recall the engineer has a number of tools at his disposal, from the basic chip detector and the Mk one eye ball, periodic micro analyse of oil (every 50 hours as I remember) analysis of any partials picked up by the mag plug, and filter. Trending of the results of the 50 hr regular check. On the 61 this was extremely important as the white metal bearings started to shed indicating a potential problem.
This simple system of periodic sampling and trend analyses gave a good indication of gearbox condition. Now add the hums and vibration analyses system performance and add these trending results to the ones above and hopefully a good monitoring system both by engineering chaps and computer and what do we end up with??
Seemingly we go back to those old days of sudden and unexplained catastrophic failure of a major link in the drive train. The investigation will provide some answers and will recommend a series of quick responses. The authorities will huff and puff and seemingly repeat past history, by actually doing very little, and in another 20 years we will be adding to a similar thread in pp with nice to do stuff and how it could all have been avoided ‘’IF’.
Waiting to be pilloried, but someone had to state the obvious.
Outhouse.
