Effect of aircraft being struck by lightening
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Lightning
This is not trivial and has resulted in significant cost to the industry. Please note that.
The FAA and EASA issued an EAD. The cost of this in the US alone was estimated at $15m.
Please also note that this work is required on any aircraft of this fleet affected by lightning strike.
This is not trivial and has resulted in significant cost to the industry. Please note that.
The FAA and EASA issued an EAD. The cost of this in the US alone was estimated at $15m.
Please also note that this work is required on any aircraft of this fleet affected by lightning strike.
The FAA has reviewed Sikorsky Alert Service Bulletin No. 76-65-55A, dated July 25, 2002
(ASB).
(ASB).
The ASB specifies reviewing the component log cards or, if necessary, other maintenance and operational records or the service history to determine if a blade has been damaged by a lightning strike, either in flight or on the ground. If the records indicate that a blade has been damaged by a lightning strike, the ASB specifies removing it from service before the next flight.
If the service history cannot be determined, the ASB specifies removing the blade before the next flight.
Since the unsafe condition described is likely to exist or develop on other specified model helicopters of these same type designs, the FAA issued Emergency AD 2002-15-51 to prevent failure of a blade and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. The AD requires the following before further flight:
• Reviewing the records for damage to a blade due to a lightning strike.
• Removing any blade that has been damaged by lightning.
• Removing any blade if the blade service history cannot be determined.
• Removing any blade with lightning strike damage.
The actions must be accomplished in accordance with the ASB described previously. The short compliance time involved is required because the previously described critical unsafe condition can adversely affect the structural integrity and controllability of the helicopter.
Therefore, reviewing the records for lightning strike damage, removing any blade damaged by lightning, and removing any blade if the blade service history is unclear are required before further flight, and this AD must be issued immediately.
Since it was found that immediate corrective action was required, notice and opportunity for prior public comment thereon were impracticable and contrary to the public interest, and good cause existed to make the AD effective immediately by individual letters issued on July 26, 2002, to all known U.S. owners and operators of the specified Sikorsky model helicopters.
These conditions still exist, and the AD is hereby published in the Federal Register as an amendment to 14 CFR 39.13 to make it effective to all persons.
The FAA estimates that this AD will affect 150 helicopters of U.S. registry and will take approximately 2 work hours per helicopter to accomplish the required actions at an average labor rate of $60 per work hour. Required parts will cost approximately $102,640 per helicopter. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of the AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $15,414,000.
This action, based on Lightning Strike Occurance alone has hopefully prevented more of these dreadful accidents
Charlie
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This action, based on Lightning Strike Occurance alone has hopefully prevented more of these dreadful accidents
At best these blades are either not properly lightning proofed or not suitable for lightning proofing.
As stated there are thousands of airlines flying in the USA who have an average of more than one strike a year and they are not falling out of the sky.
This helicopter crash is not clear and I am not surprised at the reaction until the problem is sorted or new more suitable blades designed.
Pace
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Lightning
Yes I have some interest in safety.
Lightning does bring down aircraft and as diligent as we can be, we still do not have mechanisms that can be totally safe, particularly where Lightning is concerned.
I notice that you have had some personal experience; I hope that your aircraft came through this event without significant damage.
Here is a very good article about lightning strikes; it offers some very good advice.
When Lightning Strikes | AVIATION WEEK
I hope that operators that have lightning strikes do not have too many problems with what they find. Some problems go undetected for years before they cause……….
You can never be too careful.
Charlie
Yes I have some interest in safety.
Lightning does bring down aircraft and as diligent as we can be, we still do not have mechanisms that can be totally safe, particularly where Lightning is concerned.
I notice that you have had some personal experience; I hope that your aircraft came through this event without significant damage.
Here is a very good article about lightning strikes; it offers some very good advice.
When Lightning Strikes | AVIATION WEEK
I hope that operators that have lightning strikes do not have too many problems with what they find. Some problems go undetected for years before they cause……….
You can never be too careful.
Charlie
