Extended Ops
Email sent: Date 13may2012 Time 13h18
To FAA, EASA, CAA, at
FAA Certification Office <[email protected]>
EASA Certification Office <[email protected]>
EASA AD <[email protected]>
EASA Report <[email protected]>
CAA Info <[email protected]>
Re: Helicopter Bearings Certification
Please consider introducing a helicopter certification requirement that requires the continuing operation of a faulty drive train for one hour with an OILP warning, noting that for such an event to occur in flight, it is most unlikely that either oil level or oil pressure will have reduced to zero, and that the bearing will still have residual oil content for a short time too. Bearing design evaluation required of course, and longer gear train spray cooling time.
My request is triggered by the 10may2012 ditching of Eurocopter Super Puma EC225 into the North Sea, apparently because of an OILP warning, and that the return to Aberdeen from the Oil Rig was 150 nm total - so halfway is 75 nm, and he slowed to 80 kts, so one hour needed to get you on "land" from anywhere.
Thankyou to all twin engined helicopter pilots for supporting such thinking - I hope you have already asked of course!
jimq
Last edited by clockman; 21st May 2012 at 20:26.
Reason: The EC225 G-REDW might have needed 75 nm .......