Helicopter Safety, Less Vibration Is Better

[elinavon]

Helicopter is really a bunch of parts flying in relatively close formation. Things work well until one of the parts breaks formation. vibrations is one of the biggest enemy to helicopter health consition. It is generally accepted that less vibration is better than more vibration.

From decades of operating rotary wing aircraft, military organizations around the world, as well as many civil manufacturers and operators of helicopters, have learned that one of the biggest enemies to sustained normal safety and flight operations is high vibrations throughout the drive train, rotors and fuselage.

Component failure, imbalances in the drive train, uneven friction, and the uneven meshing of gear teeth, cause such vibrations. Rotary wing operators worldwide have borne the costs of dynamic component failure due to damaging vibrations, long before predicted time before overhaul (TBO).

[Saint Jack]

elinavon: Everything you say in your post is essentially correct – but for earlier generation helicopters. Modern machines, particularly those used in the commercial market, are a lot more sophisticated in terms of vibration issues as they are generally equipped with some form of HUMS (Health and Usage Monitoring System). These systems (there are many on the market ranging from excellent to ‘don’t-waste-your-money’) continuously monitor critical locations on the engine/s and drive train and the readings give advanced warning of potential failure – provided the engineers/mechanics know how to use the system and interpret the results. In this way an operator can avoid a catastrophic component failure and significantly reduce the cost of repairs if the problem is identified and corrected early.

Some HUMS manufacturers quote a 20% reduction in unscheduled maintenance and a 60% reduction in test flights (i.e. rotor track and balance) when HUMS is fitted – and used properly by trained engineers/mechanics.

But what was the point you were trying to make?

[PPRuNe Towers]

elinavon is living on the edge - trying to make a sales pitch but saving the details until he sees if the post above survives.

Rob

[Saint Jack]

elinavon: Care to comment? If you want any meaningful discussion of this topic I strongly advise you to move your post to the 'Rotorheads' forum, but a word of caution, the majority of these guys are truly professionals and will not be amused if - as suggested by the above post - you're on a fishing expedition and/or about to make a sales pitch. Your move.

[john_tullamarine]

The first time around the patch crashed and burned.

This attempt is trying to bounce against the fence pickets without it being obvious.