Sikorsky S-76: Ask Nick Lappos
Senis Semper Fidelis
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Re: strange marks on S76 blades
Just for the record(not a record) but debris from a 9" angle grinder will travel in still conditions 60Ft and will at that range stick to auto glass, the sparks you see start life at about 1200Degree's and transfer that heat (or variations of it) to whatever they land on and will burn through Plastic coated steel roofing sheets with ease, if using a cutting disc (not a grinding disc) these sparks will be the hottest when cutting through High Carbon steel.
Leave your Auto or Heli or Plank at least 100mtrs away from any halfwit with any sort of grinding or cutting equipment.
Vfr
Leave your Auto or Heli or Plank at least 100mtrs away from any halfwit with any sort of grinding or cutting equipment.
Vfr
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S76 total hours
Just curious really....some of the S76A+s we are currently flying have hours just short of 24000
What about others around the world and what was the original "planned" hour life when designed?
What about others around the world and what was the original "planned" hour life when designed?
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The S-76 has an unlimited planned life, and should be able to go on indefinately, as long as the normal maintenance is done and time change components are replaced.
Avoid imitations
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From my own experience of the type, just about every single one of them is different! 
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Is it true that some oil companies have a limit on the age of the aircraft that fly for them. I've heard 10 years for some operators in some locations?
Are most of you guys flying with newish machines in the offshore world?
Are most of you guys flying with newish machines in the offshore world?
MHS S-61's and S-76's
When I left Malaysia in 1998, Malaysian Helicopter Service (Supporting Exxon) had already accumulated more than 50,000 hours on each of their S-61's and had surpassed 10,000 hours on each of their S-76C's. With quality maintenance these Sikorsky's could go on for ever.
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re: S-76 times...
Originally Posted by NickLappos
The S-76 has an unlimited planned life, and should be able to go on indefinately, as long as the normal maintenance is done and time change components are replaced.
76001
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The cost of rebuilding a A model is half of the cost of buying a new C+.
I am working on a A++ with 19000 hours on it.
And every 76 I have worked on is different.
Hamster, A Allison, A+ 1S , A++ 1S1, B PT6, C 1S1, c+ 2S1, c++ 2S2
I am working on a A++ with 19000 hours on it.
And every 76 I have worked on is different.
Hamster, A Allison, A+ 1S , A++ 1S1, B PT6, C 1S1, c+ 2S1, c++ 2S2
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Sikorsky delivers 600th S-76
The 600th S-76 was delivered recently.
The S-76 fleet has accumulated more than 4 million flight hours since the first aircraft was delivered in 1979 with more than 220 operators in 59 countries currently flying the type.
I think Nick Lappos may have flown the maiden flight of the S-76. If not the first, then one of the very early flights.
Heliport
The S-76 fleet has accumulated more than 4 million flight hours since the first aircraft was delivered in 1979 with more than 220 operators in 59 countries currently flying the type.
I think Nick Lappos may have flown the maiden flight of the S-76. If not the first, then one of the very early flights.
Heliport
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Heliport,
I did fly the first flight on the S-76 prototype, back in 1977, and did much of the original flight testing. It was an impressive aircraft from the start, and I am proud of all those who operate her around the world. The high time bird now has about 30,000 hours (Air Log)! Many of the records we set back in 1982 still stand, a testament to the advances the 76 made to helo flight.
I did fly the first flight on the S-76 prototype, back in 1977, and did much of the original flight testing. It was an impressive aircraft from the start, and I am proud of all those who operate her around the world. The high time bird now has about 30,000 hours (Air Log)! Many of the records we set back in 1982 still stand, a testament to the advances the 76 made to helo flight.
Ah yes...and trying to teach the machine was great fun as well....feeding the alligators in the canal next to the picnic table.
What was more fun was keeping up with what modification state the aircraft was in when delivered to the customer.
Nick...did you ever hit the Great Wall at Pahokee in the Sim?
Ever taxi off the one foot drop in the apron at Miami in the Sim? Taxiing into the one foot jump the wrong way was really a thrill.
Those were good days!
Lived next door to Bert Reynolds....I had an acre and a half...he had 250 acres and Lonny Andersen. Tough life for old Bert!
What was more fun was keeping up with what modification state the aircraft was in when delivered to the customer.
Nick...did you ever hit the Great Wall at Pahokee in the Sim?
Ever taxi off the one foot drop in the apron at Miami in the Sim? Taxiing into the one foot jump the wrong way was really a thrill.
Those were good days!
Lived next door to Bert Reynolds....I had an acre and a half...he had 250 acres and Lonny Andersen. Tough life for old Bert!
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Flown the 76 in various guises and though she had her limits, I still enjoyed her. Now fly something new and french which is superior in most ways and equal in others - Its' got no soul though! (you can, however, understand the electrical system)
Still love the 76 and always will - learned all my important lessons on it, but it has to change sooooooo much to compete with what is new and coming - not sure if it can. The S76 D will have to be superb in everything from cockpit, endurance, Class 1 perf' and single engine performance (plus an icing clearance please). Is it going to be all that - It would be nice. If it is'nt then i fear it's the end of the line for the old gal'.
Still love the 76 and always will - learned all my important lessons on it, but it has to change sooooooo much to compete with what is new and coming - not sure if it can. The S76 D will have to be superb in everything from cockpit, endurance, Class 1 perf' and single engine performance (plus an icing clearance please). Is it going to be all that - It would be nice. If it is'nt then i fear it's the end of the line for the old gal'.
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S76 Question?
Gentlemen,
When the S76 was first launched many,many years ago, it suffered a couple of fatal crashes...in a conversation with a fellow pilot the other day, he asked me what caused them but being a "Bell man" now (and not in the company of any Sikorsky pilots)! I couldn't remember!
Can anyone shed some light on this? I am more curious for myself now but when I meet him again I will let him know the answer !!!!!!!!!!!
Many thanks,
Fatigue.
When the S76 was first launched many,many years ago, it suffered a couple of fatal crashes...in a conversation with a fellow pilot the other day, he asked me what caused them but being a "Bell man" now (and not in the company of any Sikorsky pilots)! I couldn't remember!
Can anyone shed some light on this? I am more curious for myself now but when I meet him again I will let him know the answer !!!!!!!!!!!
Many thanks,
Fatigue.
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There is one I know of where a maintenance error lead to the tial rotor cables wareing through which resulted in the Tail Rotol Control going into a hard over position which resulted in the aircraft spinning out of control , which resulted with an impact into the sea, resulting in the deaths of all on board.
The S76 now has a spring assembly as a result which places the tail rotor in a setting that would allow a safe run on landing in the event of a cable failure.
The S76 now has a spring assembly as a result which places the tail rotor in a setting that would allow a safe run on landing in the event of a cable failure.
If my memory serves me correctly I believe that a couple of turbines let fly in the early Allison 250-C30 powered S-76A’s and there was also an early problem with the MRB spindle bearing outer races migrating outward, both sadly with disastrous consequences and thankfully no longer an issue.