Go Back  PPRuNe Forums > Aircrew Forums > Rotorheads
Reload this Page >

EC225 crash near Bergen, Norway April 2016

Wikiposts
Search
Rotorheads A haven for helicopter professionals to discuss the things that affect them

EC225 crash near Bergen, Norway April 2016

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 6th May 2016, 00:36
  #541 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Brasil
Age: 62
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Sir, I think the legends are changed... just saying...
cteneto139 is offline  
Old 6th May 2016, 01:07
  #542 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Home
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
What happened to the Airbus, AIBN and CHC leading us to believe there was no human error/misinterpretations. I would think forgetting to install the diaper pins would be human error ... Just saying. I think "we" is just throwing something out there.
Satcomm is offline  
Old 6th May 2016, 02:12
  #543 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Up north
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I've heard the same from a number of different people now. Washer, nappy pins and possibly the round fire wall panel still in the hangar.
VortexRinger is offline  
Old 6th May 2016, 02:22
  #544 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Up north
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
This is only rumour and not fact yet.
VortexRinger is offline  
Old 6th May 2016, 02:38
  #545 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Manitoba Canada
Age: 72
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
re: suspension strut pins .... whether loose , wrong size , or retaining clips missing I cannot see them falling out in flight ..... they are carrying +20,000 lbs and you could not drive them out with a sledge hammer.

On the ground with just enough lift to equal the MRG and rotor system (no weight on the pin) it could move a bit .... maybe that is what happened .... pin slid partway and only 2 of the 3 eyelets were carrying the load and bracket bent and distorted in flight .... just thinking out loud at possible scenarios.
Arnie Madsen is offline  
Old 6th May 2016, 02:47
  #546 (permalink)  

SkyGod
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Palm Coast, Florida, USA
Age: 67
Posts: 1,542
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 1 Post
. re: suspension strut pins .... whether loose , wrong size , or retaining clips missing I cannot see them falling out in flight ..... they are carrying +20,000 lbs and you could not drive them out with
Not so fast.
Constant vibration with loading and un-loading of the strut pin(s) could certainly move it sideways, slowly but surely.
I sure as hell would not bet my rotor or my life on a guess the pin would not move if not secured.
TowerDog is offline  
Old 6th May 2016, 02:55
  #547 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Inverness-shire, Ross-shire
Posts: 1,460
Received 23 Likes on 17 Posts
Originally Posted by VortexRinger
This is only rumour and not fact yet.
Like 500 other things!


So the suggestion is that a pile of bits sat in a hangar for HOW LONG?
jimf671 is offline  
Old 6th May 2016, 10:49
  #548 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Germany
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The front strut also carries dynamic loads. There might even be load changes from tension to compression on large fwd cyclic inputs.
EDML is offline  
Old 6th May 2016, 12:56
  #549 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: London
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Latest from AIBN, not that it adds too much:

"All the components from the helicopter are now moved to the AIBN's facilities in Lillestrøm. The helicopter parts were transported on two trailers, and arrived on Thursday morning. Here, the AIBN will continue its efforts to sort and analyze both components and other information. The participants in the investigation are currently working from their home bases, before the team gathers in Lillestrøm early next week to continue the work together.

The search for components at the accident site will resume tomorrow. The main focus for the search is for parts connected to the main gearbox. The search will continue as long as required."

Dom
domperry is offline  
Old 6th May 2016, 13:54
  #550 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Closest airport OSL and TRF
Age: 58
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
More or less the same info:

Norwegian newspaper, VG, reporting this afternoon that the AIBN is still looking for more parts from the gearbox. They say, they "have much of it, but still need more pieces".

Further on they say that "all the parts they've got is all important in this early stage of investigation. A gearbox like this contains many parts - and we are still missing several pieces".
SimCaptain is offline  
Old 6th May 2016, 15:01
  #551 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Home
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
May eat my words on this but not buying the missing diaper pin theory. Mainly due to the length of time between the accident and the MRH/MGB replacements. Having worked in the industry long enough, find it really hard to believe, at this time with all the safety nets, such a critical part would be missed. The first engineer would have to forget, the second engineer (initialing the independent) would either have to have gained enough trust in the first guy not to look, however, I cant imagine he wouldn't at least asked (which is when you would think the first guy would go "oh $#%&"). There would most likely be a checklist/greasy thumb copy of the major component replacement that gets attached to the work card where someone checked installing the pins (again "oh %$^*, I forgot the pins). Now this is just the 2 guys signing for the job, there would be several other engineers involved in replacing either of the above 2 components, possibly even a shift change (maybe not for MRH) where another set of guys would have been involved. After all that, hangar/stand cleanup, I think someone would have noted a firewall panel, washer and 2 diaper pins left over and questioned why.


So all that got missed, the aircraft has been flying for a month (according to the rumors) since the MRH replacement. There would have been a significant amount of daily inspections, preflights and turnarounds in which no engineer picked up of the missing panel. I realize its down in the bottom of the firewall behind the engine but I think it would be picked up on a daily. Engineers minds are trained to pick up on the anomalies not the thing that are correct. Again, after all that time, someone is now just noting the significance of the parts sitting in the hangar ... I don't know guys, really seems far fetched to me.


I guess nothing is impossible but its not like this is HS's first go at a puma. I do not work for HS but I do think they are a probably the most experienced super puma operators out there. CHC like all the other big boys, have all the known safety nets in place and is just hard to think such a small yet critical step creeped through the cracks for so long.


Obviously like everything else on here, this is just my own speculation and in due time we will hopefully find out the true cause so that the chances of it happening again are minimised.
Satcomm is offline  
Old 6th May 2016, 16:58
  #552 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Interloper
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Any unlocked pin that is a sliding fit (not a press fit) in a vibrating environment has a good chance of rotating even if it does this very slowly.
If that happens on a vertical pin ( up down ) it may/should stay in the hole by gravity. On a horizontal pin all bets are off. It can't move any farther in one direction but it sure can go the other way. Could take weeks.
TylerMonkey is offline  
Old 6th May 2016, 18:09
  #553 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Downeast
Age: 75
Posts: 18,285
Received 500 Likes on 208 Posts
We may assume they mean the crash site and not the maintenance hangar or store room I guess!



Originally Posted by SimCaptain
More or less the same info:

Norwegian newspaper, VG, reporting this afternoon that the AIBN is still looking for more parts from the gearbox. They say, they "have much of it, but still need more pieces".

Further on they say that "all the parts they've got is all important in this early stage of investigation. A gearbox like this contains many parts - and we are still missing several pieces".
SASless is offline  
Old 6th May 2016, 18:19
  #554 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Croydon
Posts: 285
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
So Shell's suspension stands and they are about to start flying with Bristow in Norway.
https://www.energyvoice.com/oilandga...ights-bristow/
Have they revealed anything about the Shell Aircraft review?
squib66 is offline  
Old 6th May 2016, 18:36
  #555 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Norwich
Posts: 247
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
Would it be fair to say that the aircraft was just at top of descent, about to make its final approach into the airfield. This is assuming that the crew had made any control input at all that might have precipitated the sudden break-up.

If so, the rotorhead and gearbox were being unloaded, not loaded. The former might lead to the final critical slipping of the strut retaining pin, rather than loading up the head which might lead to gearbox, strut mounting failure.

As I recall, the bottom of the strut feeds into a fork arrangement where the pin is threaded through two eyelets. Assuming (again huge assumptions) that there were no diaper pins and firewall plate, how far would the pin have to move to release the strut. Would coming out of one eyelet be enough to lose the structural strength of the pin?
Special 25 is offline  
Old 6th May 2016, 21:41
  #556 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Anglia
Posts: 2,076
Received 6 Likes on 5 Posts
...they don't add Retention Pins to any design just to add to aesthetics.
They are designed to be there to prevent Pins moving...
Rigga is offline  
Old 7th May 2016, 09:22
  #557 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: **** You
Age: 74
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Can't be a Sus Bar failure because the Gearbox split in 2 parts.
Sus Bar or Pin failure would see the Barby Plate and whole gearbox leave the scene. Almost has to be major Gear failure internal to the Gbox.
I bet my bottom dollar they are the bits they want to still find.
buzz66 is offline  
Old 7th May 2016, 10:02
  #558 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: N of 49th parallel
Posts: 199
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
So many 225 fan boys falling for the Airbus ploy of deflection.

Forget the AH and DGAC noise, they are simply covering their backsides and are totally untrustworthy. The stakes a very high and they are trying to save a product line here.

The truth will come out once it is known. It is NOT known at the moment IMHO.
Apate is offline  
Old 7th May 2016, 10:55
  #559 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: England
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by buzz66
Can't be a Sus Bar failure because the Gearbox split in 2 parts.
Sus Bar or Pin failure would see the Barby Plate and whole gearbox leave the scene. Almost has to be major Gear failure internal to the Gbox.
Not so sure about that, loose one of the three bars, the pull on the remaining two would put massive side/load onto the output shaft and I doubt the gearbox would stand that for many seconds.
Scuffers is offline  
Old 7th May 2016, 10:55
  #560 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Inverness-shire, Ross-shire
Posts: 1,460
Received 23 Likes on 17 Posts
buzz66

Let's work the odds here for your bet. Forget the stuff about the split and the barby plate.

Has anything like this happened before? Yes.

Was it the bars or the epicyclic module that failed? Epicyclic module.

Eh? ...
jimf671 is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.