ENGINES R. Fred Polak | Editor
HELICOPTER ENGINES AND THE GREMLINS THAT EAT THEM
I have seen the word helicopter defined as “too many moving parts moving in too many different direc- tions all at the same time.” This isn’t too far off, as many parts move to accomplish flight. There are mechanical sys- tems, electrical systems, pneumatic systems and hydraulic systems all working together to “fly” the helicopter. We could debate which of these systems is the most impor- tant, but reality says that without power, we are not going anywhere. So today, we are going to talk about our heli- copter’s engines and the “gremlins” that like to eat them. Today’s helicopter engines are marvels of technology and
power. These engines have heavy demands placed upon them for performance and reliability. To sustain these demands, knowing when your helicopter engine tells you something is not right and how it impacts maintenance is paramount to managing and operating a safe, efficient and cost-effective helicopter operation.
When designing a helicopter, whether a light, intermediate, medium or heavy lift platform, as we said earlier, nothing flies without power. The helicopter OEM always wants the most power from the smallest, lightest engine possible. Likewise, engine OEMs will design an engine to be used in a single or dual con- figuration that is designed for a particular weight class helicopter. The first step in determining that a “gremlin” may be lurking in
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HelicopterMaintenanceMagazine.com October | November 2013
the shadows is knowing what the power output of the engine should be for a given condition (high, hot, etc.) and recognizing that something is not right when that power level is not there is.
Regulatory Standards Basic standards for engine maintenance are formulated within the regulatory framework of the approving regu- latory body of the engine OEM, starting at the original design and certification stage. Created by the engine OEM, this includes the establishment of life limits for rotating and non-rotating parts and will be incorporated into the in- structions for continued airworthiness (ICA), which become part of the basic approval program. A service management plan is the final certification phase to determine the basis of the maintenance schedule and operation of the engine. The same regulatory framework establishes basic mini-
mum engine maintenance requirements for operation once installed in a certificated airframe. Many larger operators may add a variety of maintenance and performance require- ments to their own maintenance schedules to ensure the continued safe and cost-effective operation of the engine, and to meet the regulatory approval requirements for their own specific type of operation.
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