Ice \ snow damage

500E · March 8, 2009

Can any of you Alaskan, or Scandinavian flyers tell me what sort of blade erosion you experience due to ice particals \ falling snow? how long does the paint last on leading edge ? especially if you operate on unprepared sites, or do long line work over\in snow.

A couple of pictures would be real helpful both of the erosion strips & the leading edge.

West Coaster · March 9, 2009

how long does the paint last on leading edge ?

Probably not very long... I've never seen paint on a leading edge before.

HelliBoy · March 9, 2009

Like Einstein Said: Its all relative bro

A good place to start would be the tech reps at your airframe manufacturer. If your flying the MD just ask for Lynn.

Im my experience snow is less abraisive to blades than sand/dust obviously and even rain. Your main concern longlining while its snowing is accretion rather than abrasion. If the snow is powder or light you'll have to use a fairly long line to even see the load anyways. In my limited experience as a non pilot in the heliski industry was that blades fared rather well- as in no concern about abrasion on the A-Star and the 407. In my current experience the 206 blades do well but I try to limit the ammount of contact with snow the blades get- I dont fly in hard snow for obvious reasons and I try not to move too much air close to the ground to minimize whiteout. The Schweizer blades' paint can be worn off by looking at it too hard

In short, I wouldnt worry about unduly wearing your blades in the snow. I find they actually wear faster in the summer making off airport/dusty pad landings. I keep a can of RustOleum around to go over the schweizer blades when they start showing metal on the abraision strips- just make sure to try and use the same amount on each one.

P.S. - It snows in places other than Alaska and Scandanavia

AngelFire_91 · March 9, 2009

The Schweizer blades' paint can be worn off by looking at it too hard

P.S. - It snows in places other than Alaska and Scandanavia

Hahahahaha, I was just about to say the Schweizer will be bare metal after just flying in clear and a million. Here in ND our 206's don't seem to have too much problem in the snow. I think the rain wears them more then snow. Dust and sand of course is damaging.

500E · March 10, 2009

Reason I asked was regarding a 300 with a (cargo hook) from Scandinavia that had been used for rescuing broken snowmobiles, which showed strange wear\ pitting on leading edges.

HB we use RustOlium found it stands up well.

I forgot that it snows in other places even the UK but if the NZ fliers start I would not be able to decide if they were taking the !!!

cutter49 · March 15, 2009

I've been flying an EC120 and Astar in North Dakota for several years now with no issues. I don't believe it's much of a concern.

500E · March 16, 2009

Thanks for input all

I am still at a loss as an AP assurers me that it is common in Scandinavia to find this wear in blades used in snow ( perhaps the Scandinavians have different snow) it was on a 300 so the comments regarding Schweitzer is noted

CharyouTree · March 16, 2009

Probably not very long... I've never seen paint on a leading edge before.

Overseas, we sprayed the leading edges on our 'hawks as part of every daily. It doesn't upset the balance to spray on a thin coat, and the paint takes the abuse of sand and such as opposed to the blades.