Turbomeca and Eurocopter

[amodao]

Is anyone else out there getting fed up with all of these AWD's and SB's against the A-Star?

:alien:

[AllJeep]

Maybe I would if I knew what you were talking about?

:confused:  ???

[MagSeal]

i don't think there is any more than anyone else.

[amodao]

This is just in the last 4 months:

France has issued Airframe AWD's + SB's F-2004-005/ASB 05.00.45  Eurocopter AS 350-Replacement of Hydraulic Fluid

F-2004-046/AT 01.00.54 Hoist Hooks

F-2004-035/ASB 05.00.43 AS 350 Models-Rear Structute Junction Frame

F-2004-033/ASB 28.00.16 AS 350 Models-Fuel Bleed Lever

F-2003-260(A)/SB 24.00.10 Check Installation of Battery.

France has also issued F-2004-047/ASB A292 72 0263 & A 292 72 0809 Arriel 1B/1D/1D1/1S1-Gas Generator Turbine.

and SB 05.0042 Condition Check of Pilot and Copliot seats and attachment rails.

And specific to Canada last month, and don't think its far away from being mandatory elswhere:

Canada has issued AWD's + SB's CF-2004-10/SB 63.00.08 & SB 29.00.04(R1) Eurocopter AS 350 Models-Hydraulic Power.

I haven't received the renumbered French into FAA AWD's for my FAA library yet but I am sure they are on their way.

 :alien:

[skullcap]

Well and Sweet Hesus, have been waiting for parts from these lovely folks for weeks, this wednesday was told my three kits were ready and to be shipped, by what method sir, bus maam, little did I know that the three kits were sent from three different locales. Did you know that it takes a greydog 5 - 6 days to get to Calgary from Ft Erie, at least that long from Montreal to Calgary, well I knew that just didn't know they were there.   Stupid, Stupid, Stupid, Stupid. Course who the hell am I, one helicopter company, with no clout.  

 

 

But only 2 days from Abbotsford, and that kit has arrived safe and sound and is next to my bed, OH WELL.

 

Am going to my happy place now, where the Flames rule and sharks are blown to smithereens.

 

sc

[MagSeal]

and amadao, how many of those pertain to your aircraft? How many of those have grounded your aircraft?

I could also go thru the AD lists and bring up how many total have been issued against the a-star since its creation as well as compare with another aircraft type, but I don't see you yet complaining about the other one yet so I'll let be for now.

Sure there has been a a number of them issued lately but name one aircraft that hasn't had that at one point or another.

[MagSeal]

skullcap...glad you're getting your parts now. I wonder if enough forward planning was done, apart from giving you until september, to comply with this.

 

I imagine some people who don't plan early enough might find themselves under the gun later.

 

by the way, i'm curious...one helicopter company...three kits? are you hoarding them and going to sell them on the black market for profit near september?

[skullcap]

One electrical cutoff kit for hyd SB,one V-belt drive kit and the third is not a kit but rotor brake.  Good news, they are resending the brake by air so will have them in my hungry hands tomorrow.

 

They won't let me hoard, something to do with not being a service center, I think right now they are just trying to fill the demand prior to the summer holidays.  

 

The v-belt we were planning to regardless of AD, it is a better belt and should save money in the long term.

 

I have heard rumblings about another pump with battery power backup(electric/hydraulic) what can you tell bout this?

 

sc :yinyang:

[MagSeal]

I haven't heard about that new pump yet. But it wouldn't surprise me. I'd rather see a cost effective second pump that is hard driven off the MGB than something that's electrically driven. You'd might as well give your passenger a hand crank generator and tell him to start cranking if he wants to keep flying.

[amodao]

MagSeal,

Our 13 A-stars are affected by the AD's & SB's but none of them are grounded. I am a huge supporter of the A-star but I am getting fed up with the excessive amout of AD's and SB's directed at them and their engines. It has been a logistical and parts procuring nightmare and scheduling Turbomeca reps and aircraft to do the 2nd stage turbine's has required a lot of non rev flying so that we still can service our customers.

Parts, non rev flying, shipping, and direct maintenance costs (employee hours) can add up fast and make complying with an AD or SB quite expensive.

 :alien:

[MagSeal]

I don't disagree with you that it can be expensive. But I just disagree that there is an "excessive" amount of them.

 

I know planning can be a nightmare, but in the interest of safety, it's something that has to be done, no matter the cost.