EC135

[Brilliant Stuff]

In the UK there are at least 4 10.000FH airframes though two are waiting for new owners and one is hangared for when the rainy day comes....and the other is busily flying.

[WLM]

Hi
Just completed a C of A on T2+ under the local Aviation Regulator guidelines and we had a strange FADEC/FLI event as follows:

While on ground, engine to be tested goes to Flight, other to idle
Engine to be tested goes to Manual mode selector
CAD say ENG Manual for engine in test
then u decrease fuel flow by twisting the correct engine grip
Check Low RPM light and audio
Twist grip back to Neutral, stabilize N1
Switch Off engine with selector
wait for N1 = 0%
Engine selector back to Normal (not Manual)
Fadec off
Fadec on
Restart the engine

Now that's where it goes pear shape: Both N1 needles on FLI will go up and down like crazy... pulling a bit of collective does not settle them..
Only way is to shut down both engines and restart as normal

When we checked the second engine as per the above description, we had the same problem and had to shut down both engines again

Since then no further issues, the C of A was completed without a hitch; I queried the EC engineers, but they only have experience on P&W engines, and never had this issue come up with a P&W.

Any ideas?

[TeeS]

Hi WLM - are you sure line 6 of your procedure is correct? I am not at work at the moment but I think you shut the engine down with the manual throttle in the min flow position. I will check when I get in the office later.

Cheers

TeeS

[CS-Hover]

It's the other engine still running? It's somewhere written that you shouldn't switch either FADEC off with an engine running so don't loose cross talk capabilitie...... Not written exactlyin this words, but generally idea, not enough time seating in one

On OEI conditoon, after safe engine shutdown (of "failed" engine), both FADEC stay in ON position, by the same reason....

Know of a problem in one FADEC (Eng 1 Fadec MInor), that was "only" a cable connection problem to the other engine (Eng 2) - lot's of "crosstalk" going on

[TeeS]

Hi again WLM

Can you advise what the actual check is for? ie preference injector check, bleed air heating check etc. You also say this is being done under the local aviation regulator guidelines - is this check something they have made up, or is it in the manufacturer's maintenance manual?

Cheers

TeeS

[WLM]

Hi guys

Thanks for the reply; well it is a procedure written by the local Aviation Regulator (Eurocopter Malaysia) for performing a Certificate of Airworthiness on EC135T2+

This procedure say: Condition,engine to be tested in "flight, other to "idle"

I guess it is for injector check; but TeeS, I think you made the right point about the twist grip should be turned to "min" , stabilized, then Eng selector to Off

When I read the procedure again I think the mistake was made as follows in writing up the procedure:

Line 6 says Turn twist grip to Neutral (on my collective T2+, it means back to center mark or full fuel flow)

It should really say :turn twist grip to "minimum" to ensure no flame out?
Then switch engine selector to off?

I don't know; they have about 10-15 EC 135 P2 here, and nobody has ever said anything negative about the procedure;maybe I need to check the markings on the collective of a P2 powered 135?

[RVDT]

WLM,

Working from the approved manufacturers maintenance manual chapter 05-62-00,6-3 which is actually part of the Functional Check Flight but performed on the ground.

WARNING Please note that the current IETP is Rev 19.01 dtd 2012.03.05. The quoted information here is from Rev 18.

This procedure is done in sequence so read the previous part of the manual before proceeding.

It appears to be very different from a T1 and some of it is not as clear as it could be. There is actually a training course conducted by ECD to cover these procedures.

F. (20) Check MIN FUEL Flow and 97 %-RPM-warning on ground:

Engine main switches ENG I and ENG II -- switch to IDLE position

Twist grip ENG 1 and twist grip ENG 2 -- in neutral (N) position

Collective pitch -- full down (And collective lock on)

Control switch FADEC ENG I / II -- switch to ON position (it should read CHECK ON)

Engine main switch ENG I / II of the engine ENG 1 / 2 to be checked -- switch to FLIGHT position

Engine main switch ENG I / II of the other engine ENG 1 / 2 -- switch to IDLE position

Twist grip ENG 1 / 2 of the engine ENG 1 / 2 to be checked -- turn until NRo = 102 % -- 104 % to increase fuel flow (careful here no governing protection)

NOTE Wait until the engine is in stabilized condition.

CAD indications -- check TWIST GRIP, DEGRADE (TWIST GRIP because it is no longer in the correct position, DEGRADE because the FADEC is no longer in complete control)

Switch ENGINE MODE SEL ENG I / II of the engine ENG 1 / 2 to be checked -- switch to MAN position (the one on the overhead)

CAD indication ENG MANUAL -- check

CAD indication DEGRADE -- check off

Twist grip ENG 1 / 2 of the engine ENG 1 / 2 to be checked -- decelerate instantaneously to neutral (N) position to decrease fuel flow

CAUTION SHUT DOWN ENGINE ENG 1 / 2 USING THE ENGINE MAIN SWITCH ENG I / II, IF TOT RISES ABOVE 700 C.

N1, N2, TOT -- monitor during fuel flow decrease

LOW-RPM-WARNING -- record ( 97% - this is what you are checking here)

Warning light ROT. RPM -- check

Beeping tone (800 Hz) -- check

LOW-RPM-WARNING -- check, if reset possible (You should be able to)

NOTE Wait until the engine is in stabilized condition.

N1 -- record

NOTE The engine ENG 1 / 2 must not flame out in neutral (N) position. ENG OIL PRESS / ENG FAIL indication may appear

Engine main switch ENG I / II of the engine ENG 1/ 2 to be checked -- switch to OFF position

CAUTION DO NOT SWITCH ENG MODE SEL ENG I / II BACK TO NORM POSITION, BEFORE N1 IS ZERO (WAIT 16--20 SEC. ADDITIONALLY).

Switch ENGINE MODE SEL ENG I / II -- switch to NORM position of the engine ENG 1/ 2 to be checked

NOTE If the switch ENGINE MODE SEL ENG I / II is switched to NORM position, the CAD indication DEGRADE illuminates briefly.

CAD indication DEGRADE -- check, if illuminates

Control switch FADEC ENG I / II of the engine ENG 1 / 2 to be checked -- switch to OFF position

Engine ENG 1 / 2 -- restart in accordance with FLM EC135 T2 (CPDS) / FLM EC135 T2+ (CPDS) as appropriate

When it comes to these procedures the TM and PW are a little different.

As always read this first.

[212man]

so nowhere "speaks" about switching FADEC off (at least on, if any engine is running....) ??????

Doesn't this say just that?

Control switch FADEC ENG I / II of the engine ENG 1 / 2 to be checked -- switch to OFF position

Engine ENG 1 / 2 -- restart in accordance with FLM EC135 T2 (CPDS) / FLM EC135 T2+ (CPDS) as appropriate

[RVDT]

Engine main switch ENG I / II of the engine ENG 1/ 2 to be checked -- switch to OFF position

CAUTION DO NOT SWITCH ENG MODE SEL ENG I / II BACK TO NORM POSITION, BEFORE N1 IS ZERO (WAIT 16--20 SEC. ADDITIONALLY).

Is before

Control switch FADEC ENG I / II of the engine ENG 1 / 2 to be checked -- switch to OFF position

Engine ENG 1 / 2 -- restart in accordance with FLM EC135 T2 (CPDS) / FLM EC135 T2+ (CPDS) as appropriate

So therefore engine is stopped.


NOTE: Image for information purpose only. Configuration as seen is not normal.

Another precaution with the TM engines - DO NOT move Twistgrips without FADEC powered up!

[WLM]

Thanks RVDT

I have written to ECM about their procedure, asking for clarification; they will contact ECD lol before replying...
Rgds

[RVDT]

Sun Visors

Anybody had their sun visors in the front curl up in the sun and fall on their head in flight?

Certainly gets your attention!

Answers on the back of a postcard to............................

[TeeS]

They don't issue sun visors in Cork, just fog lights :-)

TeeS

[Brilliant Stuff]

Sun visors? You can't mean the solid plexiglas which are over your head....are they the cloth variety which pop on onto the frame over your feet which are glare shields due to the landing light?

Tell us more...

[RVDT]

BS,

The dark bits either side of the overhead. Granted they may not be so popular in the cooler climes!

[Brilliant Stuff]

Both our 135s got them, but they haven't come down in flight though I can appreciate that being a tad distracting.....

[Thud_and_Blunder]

Nice man from EC came out to Kuwait and fitted these to the 2 police a/c in 2004. It was only after he'd gone and we went to fly one of them that we found he'd sliced through the Lhs intercom lead.

Anyway, who needs sunvisors when you're wearing bonedomes like proper pilots should (says the bloke who's off to join the headset brigade any day now - sigh)?

[TeeS]

Don't worry Thud, I'm sure you will still be allowed to wear it in the bedroom

Cheers

TeeS

[ILblog]

Any experience how to put 40kg ballast on co-pilot empty seat?

How to secure it, to prevent possible interference with cyclic?

[Fortyodd2]

Make it 45 Kgs and strap it to the cabin floor behind the co-pilot seat.


.....just a thought.

[ILblog]

TXT

Doing it right now, but I would like to have it more fwd.