Sikorsky S-76: Ask Nick Lappos

[Winnie]

Hi there fellow Ppruners!

I'm looking after specific info on 2 SK-76C+ aircraft, what I'm wondering about is if there is a way to know whether certain aircraft were delivered with IIDS or Analog cockpits. I have serials but reluctant to share on page. But if anyone can help I'd be much obliged!

Regards
W.

[gulliBell]

What's the big deal with sharing the serials? The only C+'s I know of that were delivered without IIDS were those ordered by East Asia Airlines in Macau. IIDS was standard but they optioned the analog indicators instead.

[Winnie]

I don't necessarily want to identify the company etc.

I was curious since the Sikorsky Manual shows the standard layout as analog and I haven't yet sat in them myself. I'm just preparing and learning, narrowing it down would help but if the serials aren't any help then it really don't matter.

But thank you for taking the time! Cheers
W.

[gulliBell]

No. IIDS was standard fit on S76C from about March 1994. As it was for the C+ later. The Macau helicopters were ordered with analog because they were spooked by the Rogerson-Kratos IIDS operational issues reported by a S76C owner. Sikorsky changed to the Parker-Gull IIDS in about 1997 and the last S76C+ delivered to Macau had that system fitted (the others were all analog).

[Winnie]

Ha! Thank you, great information, it makes it easier to study for the future upcoming new type to me...

Cheers!
W

[gulliBell]

....I'm surprised there are pilots out there doing an initial on a C+. AW139 has been death by a thousand cuts to the S76, especially the older models of which you mentioned.

[212man]

Originally Posted by gulliBell

What's the big deal with sharing the serials? The only C+'s I know of that were delivered without IIDS were those ordered by East Asia Airlines in Macau. IIDS was standard but they optioned the analog indicators instead.

At least one Norsk Helicopters machine was hybrids (no IIDS) too. It ended up in Nigeria. Almost ended up in the side of the Pyrenees, but that’s another story!

[gulliBell]

Was the Norsk C+ ordered like that new from the factory, or did they buy one of the flogged-out Macau C+'s?

[212man]

Originally Posted by gulliBell

Was the Norsk C+ ordered like that new from the factory, or did they buy one of the flogged-out Macau C+'s?

I suspect new as I think it was one of the first C+s and would have been acquired in the late nineties.

[gulliBell]

In that case it couldn't be a Macau C+ as they were still using them at that time. The Macau C+'s are the only ones I've seen without IIDS.

[finalchecksplease]

Originally Posted by 212man

At least one Norsk Helicopters machine was hybrids (no IIDS) too. It ended up in Nigeria. Almost ended up in the side of the Pyrenees, but that’s another story!

And the Atlas mountains as well, got the report written by the co-pilot somewhere in my office

[Marve1]

3 analog C+ went to Helikopter Service Euro Air in Sweden in 1997, about the same time that Norsk got its machine. One was later in 2003 sold to HK for CR airways and I believe the other 2 went to Nigeria.

[212man]

Originally Posted by finalchecksplease

And the Atlas mountains as well, got the report written by the co-pilot somewhere in my office

Yes! Do you have the report from the engineer that got off in The Canaries and caught a flight home?

[finalchecksplease]

Originally Posted by 212man

Yes! Do you have the report from the engineer that got off in The Canaries and caught a flight home?

No don't have that report but was told the gist of it at the time in the BRC by KF himself. They were very lucky and there should have been an investigation & lessons learned for everybody but sadly never saw anything like that.

[TIMTS]

My company has one C+ without IIDS, it came from Switzerland. Not sure where it was before that.

We also have a B model WITH IIDS.

[megan]

spooked by the Rogerson-Kratos IIDS operational issues

Lack of support and price of repairs were the main issues, in 6,000 hours only ever had to have one screen replaced.

[gulliBell]

I bet you had a few steam gauges changed in the other 14,000 hours! Yeah, I don't remember an IIDS screen failing, either Rogerson-Kratos or the Parker-Gull. Push button automated power checks in the C++ with the Parker-Gull IIDS is pretty cool.

[megan]

I bet you had a few steam gauges changed

Funnily enough, no, can't recall one.

[Aser]

Originally Posted by 212man

Yes! Do you have the report from the engineer that got off in The Canaries and caught a flight home?

I'm sure it would be interesting to read, can you share "the gist of it"?

[212man]

Originally Posted by Aser

I'm sure it would be interesting to read, can you share "the gist of it"?

I’ll PM you