Some more fragile than others!

HarvestReaper - you forgot the AFDS system complete with an additional 4 firing switches (float switches), which I presume is fitted to all N Sea 332Ls these days (should be, anyway).

Pilot's inflation button is recessed into a side-facing pod under each collective, plus one on the centre console. AP disconnect (not that anyone would be likely to want to disconnect the AP in flight) is on the cyclic.

I'd put my money on the AFDS, but since the AFDS cannot fire the floats unless they are armed, and since they shouldn't be armed above max speed for arming/inflating, an inadvertant inflation is nothing more than an embarassment.

HC

I'm told this was a collective switch problem, P2 side, water ingress (as HarvestReaper said).

Well done to the crew who handled the situation with absolutely minimum fuss.

:D

HarvestReaper,
I see that this is your first post in the forums, though your technical expertise (as I would hope it should be) seems accurate, your approach and leading paragraph content seems to demonstrate a certain contempt towards your flying colleagues.

Informative technical content, shame about the opening paragraph.
Outhouse.
:ok:

Personnally, I found HarvestReaper's post informative and a lot more use than some of the pathetic comments often posted here.

As for Blind's comments, must be time of the month, or are you always that angry. Woman in a man's world, etc! PMSL:rolleyes:

Not angry mutt, but if you'd just asked the question "were the floats inadvertenly fired?" it would have been answered so there was no need to speculate. Someone else also commented on your Qu but you've chosen to ignore that PMSL!

I apologise for exaggerating 2 years when it was 14 months:rolleyes:

Perhaps all those Super Puma pilots that jumped down Helimutt's throat should get out more!

Would you have scoffed and scorned him if he'd asked "is the float deployment button anywhere near the AVAD inhibit?" ? In the BHL S-76s (A+ models, anyway) the float deployment button is on the cyclic in exactly the same place as the 332 AVAD inhibit which, in-turn, is the same location as the Bell 412 AP decouple.

So, a simple "no, the buttons are on separate controls" response (like HC's) might have been more professional and courteous.

The point is peolpe are very quick to speculate and make assumptions. In this case as both the aircraft and crew got home it was simply not necessary. At the moment passengers and the press are very twitchy Re all things helicopter and I don't think assumptions are healthy. The initial report in the papers was OTT and inaccurate and as I said earlier technical problems happen all the time but floats are more visible than, for example, a broken windscreen heater.

All 3 North Sea companies are struggling with various issues right now and it is time to stick together and rumours don't achieve anything.

Helimutt has deleted his initial post.

Anyway, a serious question now!

If you look at the pictures there is a webbing strap along the sponson floats to hold on to. There isn't one on the nose float. Any reason why? Apart from the crew don't deserve one etc.....

212 man, Thank you. Maybe I don't always type things the way I think them? But you knew what I meant. I knew what I meant and I mixed up the 'de-couple' button for AP button.

I don't claim to be an expert by any means. I'm always just along for the ride.:ok:

Blind, I believe you were closer to this than you are letting on. :E

Not sure what all the fuss is about "AccidentalInflation" has happened before and will happen again I am sure.

I do not know what caused this one.....but does it really matter!!!

If it was technical - it will get fixed.

If it was errant finger (which I seriously doubt) - Big deal.

They worked!!!

Good enough for me.

Can't help remembering several years back when my 3 year old son stood up on the back seat of an AS355 (My trusty Air Ambulance) and poked his tiny little finger through the nice bright shiny red button in the roof panel and .......................F...KIN BIG BANG!!!!!

£2,500 for a new fire bottle squib and a very embarrassed Chief Pilot (Me) having to explain that one to my Ambulance Boss.

To add insult to injury my Dad (who was very ill at the time) was in the front seat getting some 5 star bull**** from his hero Air Ambulance son (me) all but **** his pants with fright and pulled the bloody door off trying to get out.

Also many years back flying as talking ballast in S61 with a real nasty piece of work P1, not allowed to fly cos I am crap, can't play with the radios cos it's his callsign...kind of thing.

Flying back in the dark, bored and nervous I began to twiddle idly with the yellow RADALT BUG alert light cover as it seemed very satisfying to rotate it between my finger and thumb...like a pert young nipple it was...until TWANG!!! the flipping thing came loose and in doing so ejected a bulb, a spring and a washer (none of which were found) in a glittering shower of sparks that filled the cockpit, upstaged only by me snatching back my now burning fingers from the offending assembly and in the process hauling back the cyclic so hard the P1s face hit the dashboard and the howl of anguish from the pax drowned out the hitherto comforting hum of engines and rotors.

This incident serving to justify entirely the P1s view of my professional demenour and overall contribution to the world of aviation.

My only comfort being that it took him a full ten minutes to recover before he vented his considerable wrath in my direction.

Fingers...bliss for some women.....music for many...deadly when stuck on the wrong hands!! Some knobs should simply never be played with!!

At last some light hearted banter. Well done DB you made me laugh.
Tuckunder

It was a short circuit on the P2 collective switch. No surprise.

Have a nice weekend boys and girls:\

Well done DB. Made me smile too :D:

The Press are looking to jump on anything these days "helicopter". I saw the aircraft as I was taxying out and I thought the floats looked quite colourful.

In my time in the North Sea (and I wont say how long but I started here in early 70's, 1970's that is before anyone says otherwise) I have known several uncommanded float operations on the AS332L (even witnessed one on the ground on the EC225 too) and certainly it is no big deal. Aerodynamically - yes a bit noisy and embarrassing to see, so I am told.

But hey, the Press don't exist on good news do they?

Fly safe guys :ok: