AW139 FIPS experience?

[capt tosspot]

I am after views from those who have used FIPS. We will be flying with ground temps of around -5 / -10 and offshore Black Sea during the winter.The decision to have FIPS has been made, but I need your thoughts on how you use it to improve your daily operations - or does it? IM for contact would be appreciated as well. Cheers

[Savoia]

Originally Posted by Arcal76

On a different subject, we won't be using the FIPS again this Winter. Still having problems with the slip ring. Buying an AW139 for CAT A performance and FIPS and then ending-up with no FIPS and doing "vertical CAT B" in summer - what a waste!

........................

Originally Posted by Savoia

FAA AD: DISCONNECT OF FIPS

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Agusta Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters. This AD requires deactivating the Full Icing Protection System (FIPS) and installing a placard next to the FIPS controller stating that flight into known icing is prohibited. This AD is prompted by a report of a fire in the aft avionics bay and the baggage compartment resulting from an Auto Transformer Rectifier Unit internal circuit overload. These actions are intended to prevent a fire, structural damage, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

This AD becomes effective October 16, 2013

http://www.rotor.com/rotornews/Oct13/2013-15-01.pdf

[noooby]

The FAA AD is a joke. It refers to a superceded/cancelled EASA AD and doesn't address the core issue. The Main Rotor cable failed internally, causing the overload in the ATRU.

New Main Rotor cables are (I believe) available now, with (supposedly) much improved reliability. GCU's and ATRU's are being modified so that if it does get the same sort of overload again, then it won't smoke itself.

The AD also doesn't deal with the fact that the crew on that machine had FIPS Caution Messages and still chose to test the system after start up, in contravention of the RFM, knowing that it would put full voltage down everything, even the failed components. THAT is when they got the smoke.

In theory, the system should work well, as the S-92 system does now. But after taolking to some 92 people, they said the cables were the main issue in the beginning. Lets hope the new cables will sort out most of the problems with the system!

But be warned, Deicing systems on helicopters is extremenly complicated!!!

If you need the extra capability at the cost of 2 passengers and lots of $$$ then go for it.

[9Aplus]

That sport cost approx. $1M+
But it is necessary within some operational tasks&environments.

[Arcal76]

Does anybody used it on a long period of time?

For us, we had from the start a problem with the slip ring.
All electrical cable were severed and it was found during a basic inspection.
A new version was tried a few months later, but the same problem was found.
Since the slip ring has to be replaced after 400 hours, they decided to remove all of them. Since then, it looks like there is no real goal to use it?..???
So, we never used it in reality and we don't know if it works or not.

[capt tosspot]

Thanks Noooooby (I need new glasses, that may be 3 or 5 Os). Thats good background info. As you say we calculate the system will cost us 2 pax in the winter and 1 in the summer. Its one of those items where you have to look at the costs - purchase and maint. - and offset that against the actual amount of times you think the kit will prove to be useful.

has anyone flown and thought 'I am so pleased I've got this stuff right now' or does it add another layer of management pressure to fly in poor weather?
cheers

[Bladestrike]

Having only flown the 139 in Africa, I don't know anything about it's deicing capability, but more than a decade offshore out of Eastern Canada, half on the ole S61 and half on deiced Super Pumas, I can certainly say my stress levels reduced by a good 80% with the deiced Pumas! Sure, we flew in much worse weather than we would have with the S61, but the system was more than capable, and the stress of getting caught out in icing, due to poor forecasting mostly (were talking 200 miles out), especially at night, and the odd low level scud run to get back in trying to stay out of cloud, was gone. IFR all the time, and plenty of options available that weren't there with a non-deiced bird.

Highly recommended, if the system works as advertised.

[Bladestrike]

....and I have flown non-deiced Super Pumas in the Black Sea in winter, quite a fair bit actually, and I would have much rather had the de-ice kit!