Recent FIPS Troubleshooting
After many hours of statically checking FIPS Tail Rotor Blades several times as per Agusta Recommendations, all continuity, insulation, and shorting checks all 4 Tail Rotor blades met and passed the Agusta specified parameters. But when actually running on the aircraft we would get "Tail Rotor Degraded". The Slip Ring was Clean and all Related connections seemed to be in order.
A ground run at NR 100% "FIPS ON" with the Ballard ARINC 429 Software hooked up revealed a fault on page 275 (TR Distributor Unit Status)-17 '"Temp Sensor 3 "Fail"
A second ground run at NR 100% , FIPS ON and System Tests completed
(display panel showing "CHK and TR DEGR) revealed the following faults on page 275(TR Distributor Unit Status) -13 Tail Rotor 1/3 "Fail"
-17 TR temp Sensor 3 "Fail: and -19 TR Heating Status "Degraded"
and...
Page 272 (ARINC 429 From ICB to MAU Revealed Fault -14 Mat "failure"
After discussion with AgustaWestland in Europe They recommended replacement of Blades 1 and /or 3 due to Temp Sensor failure. As the blade status system is not capable of pin pointing a failure in a individual TR blade , only blades 1 & 3 (channel A)and blades 2/4 (Channel B) due to the fact the circutry works in series. It is up the the operator to do figure out which blade is the culprit. Of Course no FIPS TR Blades Available in North America at this time and we must again wait for parts from Italy.