Sky Shuttle AW139 ditches in HK Harbour

[drop lead]

Yes P&W engines so would think P&W would have the interest not transport Canada? Just wondering what the affilition/connection is??

[[email protected]]

As I understand it, it is the regulator/investigator from the country of manufacture of the various elements of the aircraft who are involved in the crash investigation, hence Transport Canada and the Italians.

[Helispanner]

The Tail Gearbox is going to the UK, manufactured by Westlands, not the tail section.
MPFR is Penny and Giles, HUMS is GE all UK based so the AAIB is the logical choice if you want answers.
The report does not state how long from the initial bang and vibrations to it all going quiet after the TGB departed, normally this is designed for the attachment bolts to shear but in this case the whole mounting structure has gone too.

[noooby]

Rumour has it,
That ( one ) TR blade has been removed from a Macau based 139 last week, with a suspected crack found at the root end or D-link attachment point area.
Seems a good find by the engineers, but raises more questions than answers.

Not new news really. All the blades on the machines I look after have "cracks" in that area, especially around the trailing edge of the blade at the root, and some also where the elastomeric bolts on. "Cracks" on the blade are just small cracks in the filler, not the blade itself and the "crack" that can appear near where the elastomeric bolts on is from a butt joint in a non-structural sacrificial layer. We flew one like that for over 300hours before Agusta asked us to send it back for them to look at.
I believe there is a Service Letter regarding the sacrifical layer butt joint issue. The other issues are usually solved by sending a photo to Agusta, who will usually confirm that it is a non-issue, or will ask for the blade to be replaced under warranty so that they can have a closer look at it.
Better to be safe than sorry, so good on the boys for removing the blade to send away for investigation, but try not to read too much into it.

[The Black Dragon]

Hmmm Good Point,, Noooby ........

[Hell Man]

Personal abuse deleted :=

Senior Pilot

[aegir]

http://www.cad.gov.hk/reports/Interim%20Statement%20-%20AW139%20B-MHJ_e%20.pdf

[OEI-Dave]

Not very conclusive I'd say. The only thing that puzzles me is that the HUMS was damaged from sea water. Correct me if I'm wrong, aren't they supposed to water proof to a degree?

[[email protected]]

At least no more boll**ks about birdstrike on the TR being the cause:ugh:

[Joker's Wild]

At least no more boll**ks about birdstrike on the TR being the cause

Yes indeed, however, I wouldn't put it past the HK CAD to miraculously determine at the very last moment that the a/c was brought down by one of our feathered friends in HK harbour. The only reason I say that is because I know how much behind the scenes meddling goes on between EAA and the two local authorities (Macau & Hong Kong) where matters of perceived, uncomfortable sensitivities might be concerned. :E

At any rate, just another document from the HK CAD that talks a lot but says effectively nothing.

[212man]

The only thing that puzzles me is that the HUMS was damaged from sea water. Correct me if I'm wrong, aren't they supposed to water proof to a degree?

No - why would it be? HUMS cards are meant to be downloaded from dry, serviceable aircraft. It's a maintenance 'tool.'

JW, I think you are being a bit harsh. Interim reports always look similar to this. They simply state a few established facts and the detailed analysis comes later. Sometimes, if there is compelling evidence, they may make some interim recommendations.

[Joker's Wild]

Oh I know I'm being somewhat harsh on the 'ol CAD, too much time spent in the area perhaps seeing how these prats operate firsthand. Gets frustrating after a while though when good intel is conveniently overlooked/hidden.

JW

btw, hope the recruiting exercise proves successful.....cheers! :ok:

[ReverseFlight]

From the HKCAD's interim report:
Whilst in autorotation, he commanded the first officer to shut down both engines in accordance with the emergency procedures and the first officer carried out the commands accordingly.Q: How many times did the captain command the F/O before the F/O took such action ?
Bottle of champagne for the first correct answer.

[aegir]

OEI-Dave (http://www.pprune.org/members/360499-oei-dave)
Not very conclusive I'd say. The only thing that puzzles me is that the HUMS was damaged from sea water. Correct me if I'm wrong, aren't they supposed to water proof to a degree?

I completly agree with you! The aircraft was recovered very soon, I think it's not possible that the HUMS card was damaged during the period the helicopter staied in the water.
It could be possible that the brackish air damaged the card??

[Thai Pom]

The HUMS cards (or to give them the posh name "data transfer device") are just ordinary PCMCIA cards slotted into a "cockpit display unit" which really a basic PCMCIA slot. Only real protection they have is the spring loaded cover over them. Not sure how waterproof that would be.

[aegir]

Yes, of course, but the corrosion is so quick??

For example, my wife wash a pen drive with my jeas in the washing machine (40 min at 30°C, delicate :p!).
she laid it and it works perfetly!

So I think that the corrosin of the HUMS card it's not due to the water crash...

[ShyTorque]

Even gold contacts corrode in the HK "air", let alone in sea water! Only place I've see brass fittings turn purple, due to air pollution.

[Runway101]

My 28 years old Nintendo (that lives near my TV in Hong Kong) still works like a charm...

[ReverseFlight]

Sept 6, 2011
MACAU DAILY TIMES - Sky Shuttle fleet grounded (http://www.macaudailytimes.com.mo/macau/29225-Sky-Shuttle-fleet-grounded.html)
With only one helicopter available Sky Shuttle had to cut its flights between Hong Kong and Macau to one every hour instead of two and suspend its services between the MSAR and Shenzhen, South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported.Sept 8, 2011
MACAU DAILY TIMES - Sky Shuttle back to full service today (http://www.macaudailytimes.com.mo/macau/29334-Sky-Shuttle-back-full-service-today.html)
“Sky Shuttle Helicopters has reduced the number of daily services operated on a temporary basis, but has not suspended any of its routes,” AW told MDTimes. MDTimes tried to clarify this issue with Sky Shuttle but received no reply before the closing of this edition.

[aegir]

I can't find the thread on AW139 accident (it was merged with this one?)

http://www.cad.gov.hk/reports/Accident%20Bulletin%204-2011%20_18%20Nov%202011.pdf

a major portion of a tail rotor blade, designated as White Blade, was found broken off from the tail rotorThe scope of work examined by QinetiQ focused on the tail rotor hub, the remained portion of the White Blade, the Blue Blade, Yellow Blade and the fractured part of the vertical tail sectionAfter a detailed review of the QinetiQ Report, CAD noted that the examined samples of the Blue Blade, Yellow Blade and the remained portion of the White Blade indicates that these blades did not comply fully with AgustaWestland’s specifications. Manufacturing discrepancies such as undersize and high level of
porosity of the upper and lower straps of the blade samples were identified.Recommendation 2011-3:
Ente Nazionale per l'Aviazione Civile, jointly with AgustaWestland, to review the manufacturing process of the AW139 tail rotor blades to determine the causes of the
discrepancies identified in the QinetiQ Report and evaluate their effects.
Recommendation 2011-4:
European Aviation Safety Agency to require AgustaWestland to perform static, fatigue, dynamic and aerodynamic tests and analyses on AW139 tail rotor blades so as to minimise the possibilities of tail rotor blade failure which could have been caused by one or the combination of these effects.

[Shell Management]

They have called in the experts from Farnborough.:D

Shell are on the case though.:)

[blakmax]

high level of
porosity of the upper and lower straps of the blade samples were identified
I feel vindicated with my stance on this issue.
I hope the guys from Farnborough are familiar with the issue of porosity (micro-voiding).

SM if you have a contact there, I'd like to communicate with them. Pls send a PM.

Regards

Blakmax

[Shell Management]

No, but try the AAIB via their website.

[Stanley11]

Apologies for resurrecting an old thread. Was there a final finding?
Also, does anyone here know someone in the management at Sky Shuttle? Thanks.