QES 412 gets a ride home under a Chinook. (Incl photo)

[Lowlevldevl]

Does anybody know why the QES 412 from Cairns had to be slung back from Cape York under an Army Chinook? Is there a thread to this already and I just can't find it? I heard an overtorque. Anybody?

[Arm out the window]

G'day, LLD.
Not too much info around that I've seen - there was an article in the Cairns Post (fine source of aviation accuracy that it is) yesterday that said something like 'the aircraft suffered overtorque, making warning lights come on'.
I haven't flown the 412 so don't know whether overtorques happen in the usual way when you just pull the collective too hard, or if there's some kind of limiting system that could malfunction and do it for you.
Expensive exercise anyway.

[gulliBell]

Torque limiting on the 412HP/EP is different to that on the 212. The TCU (torque control unit) on the twin-pack installation of the 212 will prevent you from overTQ'ing the transmission (with both engines operating), giving you rotor droop instead of overTQ. The 412's twin-pack will keep giving you the power demanded of it, to a point past the mast overTQ limit.

When the mast overTQ warning light is triggered maintenance action is required prior to further flight. Depending on the degree of overTQ, a complete factory overhaul of the power-train might be required. For a brief transient mast-TQ excursion only an inspection and re-setting of the overTQ "doll's eye" is required.

I dare say that if the ship was slung back under a Chinook then it's going to be because of something substantially more expensive than a transient overTQ.

[baffler15]

Tricky rescue successful
JESSICA JOHNSTON ([email protected])
28Jul07
IT was a sight to behold as an Army Chinook helicopter winched the ill-fated Bell 142 Cairns-based rescue chopper back into the air yesterday.
The Chinook hovered above the stricken Emergency Management Queensland (EMQ) rescue chopper while specialist slings were connected – then it was up-up and away.
RACQ-CQ rescue helicopter air crewman Darren Bobin said the potentially tricky rescue mission had run like clockwork.
He said the RACQ-CQ chopper had collected two defence force personnel from Townsville early yesterday before they flew to the stricken chopper, about 160km south-west of Cooktown.
The helicopter had been resting in a dry creek bed since it experienced mechanical problems last Sunday.
Because of the remote location and extensive maintenance needed, it was decided that the only option was to return the chopper to Cairns by air.
The Chinook, from Townsville's 5th Aviation Regiment, arrived at the site early yesterday.
The rotor-blades that had been removed from the stricken craft were loaded on to the Chinook first.
The army helicopter then hovered above the EMQ chopper, while slings were attached and it was lifted into the air.
Mr Bobin said the hour and a half flight back to Cairns Airport was smooth for both aircraft.
"The entire process went extremely well," Mr Bobin said.
"Everyone knew what needed to be done and the team swung into action.
"It was an incredibly rare site witnessing the Chinook airlift the Bell 412 helicopter and amazing to be one of the crew on this mission."
EMQ Cairns Senior air crewman Paul Tongue said the EMQ helicopter would undergo a full mechanical inspection at Cairns to determine what went wrong.
He said it could take up to two weeks before the chopper is back in the air.
However, Mr Tongue said EMQ's fourth Bell 142 helicopter, which was undergoing maintenance in Brisbane this week, would be flown to Cairns next week to undertake rescue and aeromedical transfers in the region.


http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/images/uploadedfiles/editorial/pictures/2007/07/28/winch.jpg

Now it's off to the paint shop to add a "ME" next to RESCUE on the tailboom!:ok:

The Baffler

[sagy34]

When did EMQ get a fourth 412??????:confused:or should I say 142:cool:

[Brilliant Stuff]

Do you need to add 1.5hrs to the techlog of the 412 since it's after all flying and therefore stressing the gearbox mountings?

[SMOUFW]

Final report.

http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2007/AAIR/pdf/A02007028.pdf

[Doors Off]

Now it's off to the paint shop to add a "ME" next to RESCUE on the tailboom!

The Baffler

Very funny - gave me a good laugh.:D