Agusta A109
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Australia
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Its a real shame about the Grand as I believe we will be given about 2 hours of fuel (due to energy absorbing rear seats), I guess that will stop a lot of us moving up the Agusta range to something that will suit the pax more.
I have my fingers crossed that we can option the original seat design and thus back to our original 660fg of fuel.
Have also heard that with the fitting of the Koala rotor head (or similar) has given it the same speeds if not better but with the use or a much lower torque setting. (so maybe it just works better???).
From what I am told it was designed with the EMS market solely in mind.
To me, running a 76 would not only require a pilot, but also a ginger beer....... any comments?
I have my fingers crossed that we can option the original seat design and thus back to our original 660fg of fuel.
Have also heard that with the fitting of the Koala rotor head (or similar) has given it the same speeds if not better but with the use or a much lower torque setting. (so maybe it just works better???).
From what I am told it was designed with the EMS market solely in mind.
To me, running a 76 would not only require a pilot, but also a ginger beer....... any comments?
Join Date: Mar 2003
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What is more correct maximum weight of maximum mass ?. When we say something is massive do we mean very large or very heavy ( slow night on the telly :<))
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Pierre et Miquelon
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widgeon,
Practically speaking there's little difference, just that mass rather than weight is used in Europe these days.
The Oxford dictionary defines Mass as 'the quantity of matter which a body contains, as measured by its acceleration under a given force or by the force exerted on it by a gravitational field'.
and then defines Weight as 'the force exerted on the mass of a body by a gravitational field'.
However, a better way of looking at it may be that the mas is that is is the total amount of matter in it, whilst its weight is its mass times the acceleration caused by gravity. A good explanation is given here
Mass, Weight, Density
Practically speaking there's little difference, just that mass rather than weight is used in Europe these days.
The Oxford dictionary defines Mass as 'the quantity of matter which a body contains, as measured by its acceleration under a given force or by the force exerted on it by a gravitational field'.
and then defines Weight as 'the force exerted on the mass of a body by a gravitational field'.
However, a better way of looking at it may be that the mas is that is is the total amount of matter in it, whilst its weight is its mass times the acceleration caused by gravity. A good explanation is given here
Mass, Weight, Density
Join Date: Jul 2004
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The MAUW for the Grand is 3,175kg and the five cell fuel configuration has 654kgs. With the PW207 estimated to burn 212kgs per hour on average in the cruise (i.e. 145kts) this should mean that the aircraft is capable of over three hours to empty tanks with a Pilot plus four pax.
Join Date: Aug 2004
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A109 Operators Survey
Looking for A109 operators who would like to participate in an operators survey, sponsored by a major aviation magazine. Participation can be confidential if you desire. Also looking for operators who would like to be interviewed and quoted in the article scheduled for August release.
PM to respond.
PM to respond.
Join Date: Feb 2002
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Agusta 109 Power Tips ?
Tomorrow will be my first flight in the Agusta 109 Power, I will be flying with another pilot for now and in a couple of weeks I will go to the PA for formal training, but before I begin I just thought I could ask here (and take advantage PPRuNe's infinite wisdom) if anybody has any tips that could help me transition into this helicopter I will really appreciate the time you take to write.
Thanks in Advance
Thanks in Advance
Join Date: Feb 2005
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Get a good alarm clock
Hi BlenderPilot
Best of luck with the machine
The 109 is as follows
HOP IN
Put your Destination into the Trimble (if you can figure that out! you are half way through the course)
Hit the LNAV button
Look at the ETA on the Trimble 9 (when you can find it)thats the other half of the course!!!!!!!!!!!!
Set the Alarm clock for 5mins before arrival at Destination (maybe ten if you want to have a shave first)
Land
Shutdown
PS get long arms for IFR work and do your stretching exercises while driving in the car to your base so you can get into the machine.
All jokes aside there is a 109 thread floating around that address some of your potential questions.
Once the machine is behaving you will find it powerful and fast.
Like all machines it has its plus and minus dependant on the type of ops you are doing.
Best of luck with the machine
The 109 is as follows
HOP IN
Put your Destination into the Trimble (if you can figure that out! you are half way through the course)
Hit the LNAV button
Look at the ETA on the Trimble 9 (when you can find it)thats the other half of the course!!!!!!!!!!!!
Set the Alarm clock for 5mins before arrival at Destination (maybe ten if you want to have a shave first)
Land
Shutdown
PS get long arms for IFR work and do your stretching exercises while driving in the car to your base so you can get into the machine.
All jokes aside there is a 109 thread floating around that address some of your potential questions.
Once the machine is behaving you will find it powerful and fast.
Like all machines it has its plus and minus dependant on the type of ops you are doing.
Join Date: Feb 2001
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US A109E power loss accident
From the NTSB site:
"On November 8, 2005, at 0858 central standard time, an Agusta A109-E helicopter, N30NM, operated by North Memorial Hospital, sustained substantial damage during an aborted takeoff after a loss of power from the North Memorial Hospital's helicopter pad, located in Robbinsdale, Minnesota."
No reported injuries, thankfully. Seems a strange one. PW206 single engine failure very unusual indeed, if that was cause. Anyone know any more?
"On November 8, 2005, at 0858 central standard time, an Agusta A109-E helicopter, N30NM, operated by North Memorial Hospital, sustained substantial damage during an aborted takeoff after a loss of power from the North Memorial Hospital's helicopter pad, located in Robbinsdale, Minnesota."
No reported injuries, thankfully. Seems a strange one. PW206 single engine failure very unusual indeed, if that was cause. Anyone know any more?
North Memorial Air Care - Non-injury incident
DATE
11-08-2005 0845
PROGRAM
North Memorial Air Care
VENDOR
Own Part 135
ADDRESS
3300 Oakdale Ave No
Robbinsdale MN 55422
WEATHER
Clear. Not a factor
AIRCRAFT_TYPE
Agusta 109E
TAIL#
N30NM
TEAM
Pilot, flight nurse and flight paramedic. No injuries reported. No
patient.
DESCRIPTION
While repositioning for routine scheduled maintenance, a possible
mechanical failure occured as the helicopter lifted off the hospital
helipad resulting in a hard landing. The helicopter sustained damage
primarily to the left landing gear. No injuries occurred to the crew
and no patient was on board.
SOURCE
Nancy Loberg, Program Manger
DATE
11-08-2005 0845
PROGRAM
North Memorial Air Care
VENDOR
Own Part 135
ADDRESS
3300 Oakdale Ave No
Robbinsdale MN 55422
WEATHER
Clear. Not a factor
AIRCRAFT_TYPE
Agusta 109E
TAIL#
N30NM
TEAM
Pilot, flight nurse and flight paramedic. No injuries reported. No
patient.
DESCRIPTION
While repositioning for routine scheduled maintenance, a possible
mechanical failure occured as the helicopter lifted off the hospital
helipad resulting in a hard landing. The helicopter sustained damage
primarily to the left landing gear. No injuries occurred to the crew
and no patient was on board.
SOURCE
Nancy Loberg, Program Manger
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In the A109E, an ergonomical faux-pas on behalf of Agusta leaves open the possibility of taking off with one engine still in idle. There is no obvious throttle manipulation required, either on the collective or on the roof, as with most helicopters. It's a matter of forgetting to turn a knob. By the way, I'm not implying that this was a factor in this accident; just making an observation.
Join Date: Feb 2001
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Co-incidence - or not? I now see there was another broadly similar incident 10 days earlier, too.
"On October 28, 2005, at 2324 Pacific daylight time, a twin-engine Agusta A109E helicopter, N950AL, sustained substantial damage after impacting an object and subsequently terrain following a loss of power and forced landing at the Saint Peters Hospital, Olympia, Washington. The helicopter was operated by CJ Systems Aviation Group of West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, under contract to Airlift Northwest of Seattle, Washington. The airline transport pilot, one flight nurse, and one patient were not injured. A second flight nurse sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the air ambulance flight.
The pilot reported that he lost rotor rpm on takeoff. That pilot stated that the takeoff was "initially normal" as he brought the helicopter to a hover, with no caution lights illuminated. The pilot further stated that he pulled in power to start the climbout, and just as he cleared the helipad a "Rotor Low" audio warning was emitted, "...possibly twice." The pilot reported that as the aircraft settled rapidly he attempted to maneuver the helicopter into a dirt area, which was located between the building he was taking off from and an adjacent powerplant building. The pilot stated the helicopter impacted the side of the powerplant building and spun around 180 degrees before coming to rest on its right side."
I alway thought A109Es had plenty of power even at MAUW, so anyone got any ideas what's going on here?
"On October 28, 2005, at 2324 Pacific daylight time, a twin-engine Agusta A109E helicopter, N950AL, sustained substantial damage after impacting an object and subsequently terrain following a loss of power and forced landing at the Saint Peters Hospital, Olympia, Washington. The helicopter was operated by CJ Systems Aviation Group of West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, under contract to Airlift Northwest of Seattle, Washington. The airline transport pilot, one flight nurse, and one patient were not injured. A second flight nurse sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the air ambulance flight.
The pilot reported that he lost rotor rpm on takeoff. That pilot stated that the takeoff was "initially normal" as he brought the helicopter to a hover, with no caution lights illuminated. The pilot further stated that he pulled in power to start the climbout, and just as he cleared the helipad a "Rotor Low" audio warning was emitted, "...possibly twice." The pilot reported that as the aircraft settled rapidly he attempted to maneuver the helicopter into a dirt area, which was located between the building he was taking off from and an adjacent powerplant building. The pilot stated the helicopter impacted the side of the powerplant building and spun around 180 degrees before coming to rest on its right side."
I alway thought A109Es had plenty of power even at MAUW, so anyone got any ideas what's going on here?
Headturner,
Did you also notice that the 109 on skids has a fenestron at the back??? It is usually covered up with a tarpaulin. Was going to be used for a military evaluation I heard. Not sure why they didn't continue with it for civil certification. Now it just sits there hoping someone will fly it
Did you also notice that the 109 on skids has a fenestron at the back??? It is usually covered up with a tarpaulin. Was going to be used for a military evaluation I heard. Not sure why they didn't continue with it for civil certification. Now it just sits there hoping someone will fly it
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Didn't notice a fenestron on the one that I saw. Looked like a Koala on high skids, but on closer inspection it looked like a 109 on high skids with SAR items and a hook fitted. I was told it was a twin engined Koala!
Probably the same one. White all over. When I saw it I just thought it was a Koala on high skids. Then noticed it was a twin. That had me confused. Had a look around it and noticed the cover on the tail. Asked one of the guys there why the tail was covered. Had the Tail Rotor been removed for sevicing. He smiled and showed me what was under the tarpaulin. The Tail Rotor had indeed been removed, but not for servicing!!!!! Pretty little fenestron sitting under the cover. I'm sure they would be able to sell them!! 
A109 fenestron
Curious....I know Agusta were testing this version but have heard nothing since last year.Is the aircraft still at the works or have those who saw it dug back in their memories ??
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Agusta 109C useful load
I'm trying to find out the typical useful load of an Agusta 109C. If I could have a few examples of the basic weight of any machines that anyone knows (and an idea of what kit it has) then I will be able to get some idea.
Thanks
Thanks