Bell 206

[Eagle one]

I've been a helicopter enthusiast for years and have just started flying flying lessons in a Bell 206.

I would be grateful if someone could explain a couple of the following areas that are perplexing me.

1. Does the battery hot caption still work with lead acid batteries? Or is it only with nickel cadmium batteries?

2. What does the battery relay warning caption alert you to?

3. What does the button on the top of the control panel, marked PASS INT stand for?

4. What is the maintenance schedule like for the Bell 206?

5. How much fuel does the 206 use in start and run up. I was told that 15 lbs - is that about right?

Any help appreciated.

[MK10]

i presume you have an instructor, giving you these flying lessons?? Ask him, he,s there to TEACH YOU. sorry i know nowt about 206,s:ugh:
mk10


ps
welcome to pprune:

[GoodGrief]

why don't you ask your instructor ?
He should be able to tell you.

[Eagle one]

I'm on my 4th lesson, just trying to get ahead before my next one in a few weeks.

[Aesir]

1. Does the battery hot caption still work with lead acid batteries? Or is it only with nickel cadmium batteries?
No, its only for the Nicad battery and normally would be placarded or removed in a helicopter with Lead acid.

2. What does the battery relay warning caption alert you to?
Hmm.. don´t have that one in mine. 1970 AB206A/B. Don´t know what it for. Maybe to tell you the battery relay has tripped and electrical power is provided by Generator only.

3. What does the button on the top of the control panel, marked PASS INT stand for?
Passenger intercom isolate switch.

4. What is the maintenance schedule like for the Bell 206?
50, 100, 300 etc hrs inspection plus annual and the very much hate´d by 206 owners bi-annual TT strap replacement. Other than that it´s a very easy helicopter to maintain and the TT straps are the only negative maintenance aspect for the private owner in my opinion.

5. How much fuel does the 206 use in start and run up. I was told that 15 lbs - is that about right?
It´s really neglible, but if you have to calculate it in then 15 lbs sounds about right for check list and navigation set ups. In action a JetRanger can be ready for flight in less than 2 minutes but if you take your time it´ll burn a bit of fuel.

[B Sousa]

"I'm on my 4th lesson, just trying to get ahead before my next one in a few weeks."

Beyond all the questions you have mentioned, you hit on another problem that seems to plague new Pilots. That is for whatever reason, financial etc. many students dont or cant keep their training in some kind of reasonable time line. Next lesson in a few weeks costs more than in a few days in the long run. I would suggest if possible you make your lessons closer together. It helps from taking two steps forward and one to the rear because of the length of time away from training.

Also if you cant ring your instructor up once in a while and get a couple questions answered without his money meter smoking, I would get another instructor.

As to 206 info, try and locate another students "factory training manual' or visit some of the companies utilizing these aircraft and buy a maintenance type/engineer a big lunch/pint. Those are the guys who will keep your Pilot butt from getting in trouble. Besides what lites up on the panel, you should hang out with the maintenance folks and see what makes the fire and smoke come out of the exhaust.
I owe many years of safe flight from those who wrench on aircraft showing me what in fact what my input did to make things work behind me. Most of this "training" cost me no more than a few Beers.

[gadgetguru]

check your PM's

[Eagle one]

Thanks for help and advice.

[HillerBee]

Are you doing a type rating or the complete PPL on a Jetranger? There are cheaper ways to get a PPL that's for sure.

Your instructor should have told you by the way in the first lesson, and should have given(sold) you a flight manual. My students get the study books and manuals before I start flying with them.

[vaqueroaero]

The battery relay light is for the following:

If you have a Nicad battery and it goes hot, the procedure is to turn off the battery switch and land as soon as practical. This isolates it from the generator. It only works if you have a Nicad battery.

When the battery switch is turned off and the relay light is illuminated then it means that the generator is still charging the battery because the relay has failed in the on position. Therefore the risk of thermal runaway and possible battery explosion is elevated. Land as soon as possible having turned off the generator and battery switch (yes, giving yourself an electrical failure). If above 6000 feet pressure altitude, if possible, get below it as turning off the battery and generator will remove power form the boost pumps. If you are not able to get below 6000 feet.........use your best judgement!

[paco]

PDF flight manuals for the B206:

B206A (http://www.electrocution.com/docs/BHT-206A-FM-1.pdf)
B206B (http://www.electrocution.com/docs/BHT-206B-FM-1.pdf)
B206B3 (http://www.electrocution.com/docs/BHT-206B3-FM-1.pdf)

Also:

B407 (http://www.electrocution.com/docs/BHT-407-FM-1.pdf)
AS350B2 (http://www.electrocution.com/docs/350B2FM.pdf)
AS350B3 (http://www.electrocution.com/docs/350B3FM.pdf)
AS350BA (http://www.electrocution.com/docs/350BAFM.pdf)
EC120 (http://www.electrocution.com/docs/EC120BFM.pdf)


They are provided for training purposes only and are copyright their respective manufacturers.


Phil

[chester2005]

Eagle one

There are some quite good books available on the 206 and maybe now (close to Christmas) might be the time to mention your desire to receive one all wrapped up ???

My personal choice would be "the bell 206 book" by Phil Croucher

Enjoy your lessons

Chester:ok:

[Bladecrack]

Was thinking of buying that Bell 206 Book myself, even though i aint flying one anymore, I kinda miss the old girl! (never let me down) Glad to hear someone else has recommended it, the only thing that put me off was the dodgy cover, :E what exactly are those wiggley lines all about??? (would have thought a nice picture of a shiney new 206 appropriate)
Anyhow, I'm rambling on a bit.... :O Will ask Santa for it!:cool:

[paco]

The wiggly lines are of a 206 photo that has gone through photoshop - don't worry, I have a nice picture ready for the next print run :)

phil

[Ioan]

I'd recommend that book as well. It's all very well saying "ask your instructor", but within a month of finishing the type rating I had more B206 time than one instructor I know who's teaching on it. Theres all sorts of hints and tips in it to keep you out of trouble, useful rules of thumb in the performance section which are worth their weight in gold, and it's good having all the data you want (eg the Vne at different weights, max times for a given TOT / N1, etc) in one place.

Merry christmas - happy flying!

[Bladecrack]

Paco,
Ah! Now I can see it, look forward to reading the new one!
Merry Xmas All :ok:
BC.

[paco]

I kept waiting and waiting for people who promised such a piccie, but in the end I had to do it myself!

Happy Hols to one and all!

Phil

[Ed Thrust IV]

A question for all you Bell 206 drivers. Have you ever seen a rotor RPM gauge with no yellow band between 50-60% and a yellow power off range from 85-90% below the normal green 90-107%? If you have what variant what was it fitted to? Thanks in advance.

[DoinTime]

Sounds like that guage is out of a Longranger. We had to do a quick replacement out of the field in our B3. We took the guage out of the L1. the numbers matched from the book.

Although we changed out the guage again at the first chance we got.

The guage was only missing the yellow between 50 and 60%. I have not seen one with a yellow from 85 to 90%??

[somepitch]

i may be wrong, but that sounds like it could be a 407 tach (well the yellow 85-90% part anyways..) 407 pilots feel free to correct me :}

[FebruaryValentine]

Been awhile since I flew a 206 and was checking the freewheeling unit on shut down. Aren't the N2 and Nr needles in the tach suppose to split when you roll the throttle to idle? They only split when I roll the throttle off after cool down. Is that right?? Thanks

[Torquetalk]

Anyone got a copy of a B206/L MMEL?

TT

[FH1100 Pilot]

FebVal,

It is a common misconception that you're supposed to see a needle-split when rolling the throttle of a 206 to IDLE. It does not happen. You might not even see a needle-split when doing practice EOL's. Or much of one.

You check the FWU two ways: a) by turning the rotor prior to startup, and b) by watching for the needle-split after shutdown.

[paco]

MELs for just about everything can be found here: Flight Standards Information System (FSIMS) (http://fsims.faa.gov/PICResults.aspx?mode=Publication&doctype=MMEL)

Phil

[Torquetalk]

Thanks Paco

Settled my question. Reference was an out-of-date MEL

So, now a question to open a can of worms: If and when would ppruners fly with an inop N2? :E

TT

[handbag]

and just remember, when practising autorotations, the idle stop is there to prevent you inadvertantly rolling the throttle to the fully closed position.:rolleyes:

[FH1100 Pilot]

Torquetalk:

Aside from the illegality of it, I see no practical problem flying with an inop N2 gauge.

I'm trying to recall...did the original (to the U.S.) D-model Astar have an N2 needle?

[Bell_Flyer]

Can someone please throw some light on why after over 30 years, Bell has been unable to come up with a set of TT straps that lasts more than 2 years? In 1999 when I was in their Mirabel office, I was told that they would be coming up with straps that lasts longer because they're using some new non corrosive metals and a better plastic cover. Then there was a Bell publication that said 'we're working on it - give us some more time".

Is it an economic reason (so they can have trailing and repeat revenue), engineering incompetence (engineers are incompetent on this project) or just no interest in fixing this problem. Kiowas TT straps are 'on condition'.

I see Eurocopter increasing life on some of their parts, Robinsons upping their maintenance from 2000 to 2200 for overhauls, etc. Why not Bell?

Can someone from Bell throw some light on this, please?

[FauxZ]

It was touched on a little bit when I was at the factory school last year. The straps between the OH-58 and the JetRanger are identical, the only difference is in the paperwork. It was mentioned that only one time have they had a TT failure, and I think it was in an OH-58. IIRC, there was a small hole in the epoxy coating, allowing moisture into the strap which then corroded the wire inside.

I'm sure they don't mind the extra revenue from all those straps, and they can reduce their liability by making them get replaced all the time.

[IHL]

1. Does the battery hot caption still work with lead acid batteries? Or is it only with nickel cadmium batteries?

NO: Lead acid batteries do not go into the condition "thermal run-away" as ni-cads do. Though with the newer type of ni-cad battery it seldom happens.

2. What does the battery relay warning caption alert you to?

Battery is off or disconnected from the charging system.

3. What does the button on the top of the control panel, marked PASS INT stand for?

Don't know.

4. What is the maintenance schedule like for the Bell 206?

Depends on the operator approved maintenance schedule. The 206 is not know for being maintenance intensive.

5. How much fuel does the 206 use in start and run up. I was told that 15 lbs - is that about right?


Don't know.

In crusie about 27 GAL US /hour

[Bell_Flyer]

Has anyone heard whether Bell has made any progress in extending the calendar life of its 206 series T&T straps? By 20%? 30% perhaps?

Bell's been working on this problem for over 30 years. I'm starting to doubt their sincerity in wanting to extend the life of TT straps. What kind of engineering challenge is it to make them more durable? Why is it taking so long (well over 30 years)?

Just wondering if anyone has an insight into this ...

[Chopper Doc]

AFAIK they are currently conducting trials on the current TT straps. There is no plan to change the design only a plan to prove that they can last longer than their current life. It does seem a nonsense when you remove them after two years and apart from a bit of grease they look brand new.

[rotorspin]

Just in the process of going through the paperwork to increase MAUW to 3350lbs from 3200lbs.... (and no not external load) on a 206 B3

I am sure most owner/operators know this, but apparently you can get this authorised providing skids etc are signed off by maintainer...

If you did not know this, you will be as happy as me!! :ok: