PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Helicopter crash off the coast of Newfoundland - 18 aboard, March 2009
Old 24th Jun 2015, 19:38
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Hilife
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Land of the Angles
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NF. Look again, the reasoning is recorded in the report.

1.6.3 S-92A Main Gearbox

The oil filter bowl is attached to the MGB housing by three equally spaced titanium alloy stud and self-locking nut assemblies. The manufacturer decides what type of fastener to use, as there is no specific rule that defines the type of fastener to be used for what application. In selecting a fastener, aircraft manufacturers typically use similar product history, published material specifications (i.e. American Society for Testing and Materials), and/or develop their own process specifications.

Titanium is desirable in certain applications due to its corrosion resistance and lighter weight as compared to steel. Sikorsky selected the titanium alloy stud because these had been used successfully on other Sikorsky products, such as the CH-53E Sea Stallion which utilizes six titanium studs to attach the oil filter bowl to the MGB. Also, Sikorsky declared that there was no reported history of in-service titanium stud failures.

The fastening system for the oil filter bowl of the S-92A used anodized titanium alloy studs, silver-plated steel nuts and cadmium-plated steel washers. Anodizing and plating increases resistance to corrosion, wear and galling.

http://http://www.bst-tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/aviation/2009/a09a0016/a09a0016.asp#sec1_6_3

As always I stand to be corrected, but I think you will find the UH-60 series MGB has titanium studs and still the case today for the reasons noted above.

Read the following paragraph as to why the S-92 was unique in having problems with the titanium studs.

1.6.3.3 S-92A Main Gearbox Oil and Filter Replacement

Last edited by Hilife; 25th Jun 2015 at 14:44.
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