Flight deck indication of health monitoring data

Abstract

In September 1995 there was an incident involving an AS332L Super Puma helicopter over the North Sea. This followed the onset of high vibration due to the fatigue failure of a tail rotor blade retaining hinge. This was the first major vibration incident involving a helicopter fitted with a health and usage monitoring system (HUMS). The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch made a number of recommendations. One was that the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) should develop the concept of providing a flight deck display of health monitoring information to the flight crew. The CAA asked the Helicopter Health Monitoring Advisory G roup (HHM AG) (an industry body that advises the CAA) to consider the issue. This paper will examine the findings of the H HMAG working group and discuss the practicality of such systems in an operational environment.

Keywords

safety airworthiness accidents helicopters warning rotors transmissions avionics vibration health usage

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References

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Flight deck indication of health monitoring data—a critique

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