Super Puma Fault Could Cause Loss of Control if Unchecked

Published in Oil Industry News on Wednesday, 7 January 2015

A fault affecting some models of Super Puma helicopters could cause pilots to lose control of the aircraft if left unchecked.
Three cases of cracked pins in the main rotor hub used in AS332 and EC225 Super Pumas were reported to manufacturer Airbus last year.
The firm immediately notified operators and alerted the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which issued a legally-binding notice instructing companies to deal with the issue.
EASA investigators reported: “Three cases of cracked main rotor blade attachment pins were [found] on the same AS322 L2 helicopter main rotor hub. Subsequent investigation revealed that the cracking was the result of a combination of factors, among them the corrosion in the inner area of the pin chamber.
“The condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to failure of the main rotor blade attachment pin, resulting in loss of control of the helicopter.
"To address this potentially unsafe condition, Airbus Helicopters issued a bulletin to provide inspection instructions."
The corrosion is believed to be caused by environmental factors. EASA has issued detailed instructions to Super Puma operators requiring repeated inspection of the rotor pins from January. The new rules are intended to help companies detect and remove corrosion before cracks can develop.
Regular inspections will be expected to take place at least every 26 months on AS332 and EC225 Super Pumas after they have spent 410 and 660 hours in the air respectively.
Source: www.stv.tv