GRAHAM WARWICK / WASHINGTON DC
The US Coast Guard has launched an urgent drive to re-engine its Eurocopter HH-65 Dolphin helicopters, citing an "alarming increase" in partial power-lossincidents caused by control system problems. Integrated Deepwater Systems (ICGS), prime contractor for the Coast Guard Deepwater re-equipment programme, has been given 150 days to implement a solution to restore "safe and reliable" operation of the HH-65. The USCG wants a digitally controlled engine to replace the Honeywell LTS101-750 turboshaft.
ICGS, a Lockheed Martin/Northrop Grumman joint venture, issued a request for information in late January, calling for a prototype installation to be available by June and production engines by August. This has dismayed Honeywell, which has an uprated LTS101 with full-authority digital control (FADEC) under development, the HTS900, but cannot meet the schedule. Turbomeca's more powerful, digitally controlled Arriel 2C2, meanwhile, has already been demonstrated on the HH-65.
Failures in the LTS101's mechanical control system, which has both engine- and airframe-mounted components, are blamed for 53 reported partial power-loss, or torque-split, mishaps since the beginning of fiscal year 2004 in October last year. This compares with 32 in FY03 and 32 for the three-year period of FY00-02, says the Coast Guard. While the recent spike was partly caused by a change in mishap reporting procedure made in November, "there is absolutely an increase in incidents", says Capt Gary Blore, chief of the office of budget and programmes.
In April last year, Honeywell and the USCG agreed to address, respectively, the engine and airframe component-related deficiencies. Honeywell light/utility engine programme director Bob Miller says the company has replaced two poor-durability fuel control components across the fleet and is replacing other parts under its power-by-the-hour maintenance agreement with the Coast Guard. Blore says the USCG will soon begin replacing one airframe-mounted component and rerigging another to improve reliability.
The Coast Guard budgeted $14 million for an LTS101 FADEC in FY00-01, but work was stopped during the abortive General Electric/ Honeywell merger in 2001. After 11 September 2001, Blore says, the USCG spent $5.7 million of the money with Eurocopter to qualify the Arriel 2C2 in the HH-65. The money was restored to the LTS101 budget and another $4 million added in FY03, he says, and negotiations are under way with Honeywell on both FADEC development and procurement of additional -850 power upgrades for the LTS101.
Honeywell is spending $8 million on developing the HTS900, and can deliver a prototype by year-end, says Miller, but certification is not scheduled until May 2005. With USCG backing, he says, the programme can be accelerated to get engines into the inventory by early 2005.
Blore says the current FADEC development and production schedule does not meet the Coast Guard's need to re-engine its 95 HH-65s within two years.
Source: Flight International
