Kaman stop production of K-Max
Thread Starter
Kaman stop production of K-Max
Sad news but due to low amrket demand, Kaman is stopping production of the K-MAx
https://aviationweek.com/defense-spa...max-helicopter
Last one I saw was Heli Expo 2020 (my pic below)
and before that was January 8th 2016 when I went up to west midlands to see Rotex at work assisting the Uni of Central England with CO2 silo construction for their natural sciences department, (my photos below)
cheers
https://aviationweek.com/defense-spa...max-helicopter
Last one I saw was Heli Expo 2020 (my pic below)
and before that was January 8th 2016 when I went up to west midlands to see Rotex at work assisting the Uni of Central England with CO2 silo construction for their natural sciences department, (my photos below)
cheers
The following 3 users liked this post by chopper2004:
Out of 60 K-Max's produced, 16 have crashed and been written off - that's 27% of the fleet! While admittedly this is a small production run that subsequently skews the numbers, I can't actually think of any aviation product of any kind that has suffered an attrition rate as high as this?
The K-Max remains an extremely popular helicopter and I know operators, pilots, and mechanics that love them, and have no qualms about operating them. This is the second time that production has been terminated, but maybe it'll come back again in the future. It was extremely successful as an autonomous unmanned platform, and it is hard to believe it won't reappear at some point in the future in that same role.
The K-Max remains an extremely popular helicopter and I know operators, pilots, and mechanics that love them, and have no qualms about operating them. This is the second time that production has been terminated, but maybe it'll come back again in the future. It was extremely successful as an autonomous unmanned platform, and it is hard to believe it won't reappear at some point in the future in that same role.
Gnome de PPRuNe
Originally Posted by Cyclic Hotline
Out of 60 K-Max's produced, 16 have crashed and been written off - that's 27% of the fleet! While admittedly this is a small production run that subsequently skews the numbers, I can't actually think of any aviation product of any kind that has suffered an attrition rate as high as this?
Originally Posted by treadigraph
Out of interest, I believe 18 of A-12/SR-71 production totalling 46 aircraft were lost - four crew were lost.
Gnome de PPRuNe
Originally Posted by B2N2
12, 4 because of tire failure.
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Chopper2004: That is unfortunate news. Makes me wonder what is still in production at Kaman?
It is fascinating to see the K-Max fly and its rotors intermesh when they are so close together.
Well Cyclic, treadigraph shared interesting stat for A-12 / SR-71 losses at 38.3% combined, but then look at the Luftwaffe's fleet of F-104's. According to Wikipedia: "The Germans lost 292 of 916 aircraft and 116 pilots from 1961 to 1989, its high accident rate earning it the nickname "the Widowmaker" from the German public". That is a 31.9% loss rate during that period for this far larger fleet.
Would be informative to find out how many of the K-Max accidents were due to some sort of mechanical issues as opposed to those due to other causes given higher risk ops they are probably often conducting (low level, sling loads, firefighting).
It is fascinating to see the K-Max fly and its rotors intermesh when they are so close together.
Originally Posted by Cyclic Hotline
Out of 60 K-Max's produced, 16 have crashed and been written off - that's 27% of the fleet! While admittedly this is a small production run that subsequently skews the numbers, I can't actually think of any aviation product of any kind that has suffered an attrition rate as high as this?...
Would be informative to find out how many of the K-Max accidents were due to some sort of mechanical issues as opposed to those due to other causes given higher risk ops they are probably often conducting (low level, sling loads, firefighting).
Well Cyclic, treadigraph shared interesting stat for A-12 / SR-71 losses at 38.3% combined, but then look at the Luftwaffe's fleet of F-104's. According to Wikipedia: "The Germans lost 292 of 916 aircraft and 116 pilots from 1961 to 1989, its high accident rate earning it the nickname "the Widowmaker" from the German public". That is a 31.9% loss rate during that period for this far larger fleet.
A total of 890 Meteors were lost in RAF service (145 of these crashes occurring in 1953 alone), resulting in the deaths of 450 pilots. Total in service 3275
So a loss rate of 36%. With a higher fatality rate.
A total of 890 Meteors were lost in RAF service (145 of these crashes occurring in 1953 alone), resulting in the deaths of 450 pilots. Total in service 3275
So a loss rate of 36%. With a higher fatality rate.
Considering the type of work the K-Max did and being single engine it is not surprising there were crashes.
Logging, fire fighting, construction work....all low altitude operations with lots of hovering at max power, and rough loading of forces on the airframe especially during logging work....as compared to standard utility helicopter accident rates....no surprise the K-Max suffered losses.
Think not....look at Huey Helicopters in logging operations....they crashed with great frequency.
Logging, fire fighting, construction work....all low altitude operations with lots of hovering at max power, and rough loading of forces on the airframe especially during logging work....as compared to standard utility helicopter accident rates....no surprise the K-Max suffered losses.
Think not....look at Huey Helicopters in logging operations....they crashed with great frequency.
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Originally Posted by Cyclic Hotline
Out of 60 K-Max's produced, 16 have crashed and been written off - that's 27% of the fleet! While admittedly this is a small production run that subsequently skews the numbers, I can't actually think of any aviation product of any kind that has suffered an attrition rate as high as this?
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Bell 204's.....doing heli-logging....like playing Russian Roulette with five loaded chambers in a six shot revolver!
Last edited by SASless; 25th Jan 2023 at 00:32.
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Originally Posted by helichris
There were two aircraft. One crashed. Not extremely successful.
And another one gone this week.
IDENTIFICATION Date: 24-JAN-23 Time: 21:00:00Z Regis#: N202WM Aircraft Make: KAMAN Aircraft Model: K1200
Event Type: ACCIDENT Highest Injury: NONE Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: SUBSTANTIAL LOCATION City: SWEET HOME State: OREGON Country: UNITED STATES DESCRIPTION Description: AIRCRAFT, SWEET HOME, OR:
N202WM, KMAX, ROLLED OVER DURING LANDING WHILE CONDUCTING LOGGING OPERATIONS APPROX 20 E OF SWEET HOME. POB: 1, INJURIES: NONE, DAMAGE: SUBSTANTIAL. 01/24/2023 2100Z
IDENTIFICATION Date: 24-JAN-23 Time: 21:00:00Z Regis#: N202WM Aircraft Make: KAMAN Aircraft Model: K1200
Event Type: ACCIDENT Highest Injury: NONE Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: SUBSTANTIAL LOCATION City: SWEET HOME State: OREGON Country: UNITED STATES DESCRIPTION Description: AIRCRAFT, SWEET HOME, OR:
N202WM, KMAX, ROLLED OVER DURING LANDING WHILE CONDUCTING LOGGING OPERATIONS APPROX 20 E OF SWEET HOME. POB: 1, INJURIES: NONE, DAMAGE: SUBSTANTIAL. 01/24/2023 2100Z
Originally Posted by snotcicles
Bell 214B: - Hold my beer...
Originally Posted by Cyclic Hotline
This is correct, but the accident was preventable. This report is referenced in this story. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...from-crashing/
