Shaft Problems & Co
Because I'm not particularly familiar with the development of the SUPER PUMA I browsed a bit in the Web and found the following interesting documents
Accordingly, are existing three different (bevel gear?) shafts for Super PUMA series AS332L, L1, L2 and H225:
- In the L, L1 and L2 models is (was) "Shaft 1" of original design installed.
- For the H225 model was "Shaft 2" developed and installed
- In the course of product care, maintenance and overhaul "Shaft 2" as retrofit could also be installed in the L, L1 and L2 models.
- However, "Shaft 1" can not be installed in the H225 model.
- As one of the results of the Aircraft Accident Investigations of Ditching of G-REDW and of G-CHCN a change in the manufacturing process of specific batches of "Shaft 2" was thought to be the cause.
- Since 2012 and the groundings, L, L1 and L2 aircraft are re-fitted with ‘Shaft 1”, the original design of shaft which had accumulated 4.5 million flight hours without obviousely corresponding incidents or accidents
- New evidence is coming to light which suggests that the scopes of the problems associated with ’Shaft 2’ are wider. Use of aircraft which feature this shaft is not supported by the aircraft operators and is also not permitted by the CAA of UK since the incidents and accidents of 2012.
- H225 remained grounded till development, evaluation, production and availability of ’Shaft 3’ was successful in 2013 and all H225 were equipped / retrofitted with ’Shaft 3’.
The big question is now: Are there new evidences given, that ’Shaft 3’ might be one of the multiple causes of latest accident in Norway?
In this case all helicopters being equipped with ’Shaft 3’ must be grounded and those might be besides the already grounded H225 and AS 332L2, due to overhauls of MRGB, a majority of AS332L1 and AS 332L worldwide!
With regret and the wishing of a competent and happy knack in tackling the various problems of the PUMA / PUMA SUPER series it is no longer done.
Too much has accumulated over the decades at the "Design Approval Holder" AIRBUS Helicopters France and it seems to me more likely to go to "To be, or not to be, that is the question”.
The "shaft problem" and/or the total MRGB problem might result in the desaster that the majority of the approx. 800 PUMA / SUPER PUMA operated worldwide is multiple affected.
Last edited by AW009; 4th Jun 2016 at 15:02.
Reason: formatting