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The Art of the Helicopter John Watkinson - Karatunov.net

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244 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Art</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Helicopter</strong><br />

Fig. 6.35 Take-<strong>of</strong>f pr<strong>of</strong>ile from an urban helipad. By taking <strong>of</strong>f upwards and to <strong>the</strong> rear <strong>the</strong> pilot can see <strong>the</strong><br />

helipad and return to it in <strong>the</strong> case <strong>of</strong> an engine failure below decision height.<br />

Clearly before descending below a certain height <strong>the</strong> second engine would have to be<br />

started. <strong>The</strong> certification process would have to include determination <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> critical<br />

height and <strong>the</strong> demonstration <strong>of</strong> reliable restarts.<br />

One important point is that <strong>the</strong> redundancy <strong>of</strong> twin engines is only achieved if <strong>the</strong>y are<br />

independent in every respect so that no single failure could stop both. Whilst an engine<br />

might fail because <strong>of</strong> a non-violent problem such as a broken compressor pressuresensing<br />

pipe, it should be borne in mind that turbine engines also fail violently through<br />

blade disintegration on occasions. If debris from a failed engine can damage <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r<br />

engine <strong>the</strong>n it too might fail. In a civil helicopter it would be adequate to have a barrier<br />

between <strong>the</strong> engines or engines designed to contain shed blades. In a military machine,<br />

<strong>the</strong> engines may also expect damage by enemy fire and in this case a significant physical<br />

separation is required so that an explosive loss <strong>of</strong> one engine does not affect <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r.<br />

<strong>The</strong> pod-mounted engines <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Apache and <strong>the</strong> Chinook are good examples <strong>of</strong> this<br />

philosophy.<br />

Figure 6.36 shows <strong>the</strong> transmission <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Westland Sea King. This twin-engine<br />

machine has hydraulically folded blades but no APU. <strong>The</strong>re is one overrun clutch for<br />

each engine, but one engine has an extra clutch allowing it to be started and run with <strong>the</strong><br />

blades folded so that accessory power is available. <strong>The</strong> accessories are driven through<br />

one-way clutches from one engine and from <strong>the</strong> main transmission. With <strong>the</strong> first engine<br />

running, hydraulic power is available to unfold <strong>the</strong> blades. <strong>The</strong> second engine is <strong>the</strong>n<br />

started and used to bring <strong>the</strong> rotors up to speed. When this has been done, <strong>the</strong> clutch<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> first engine can be engaged so that both engines can drive <strong>the</strong> transmission.<br />

6.29 Transmission instruments<br />

A light helicopter may have no transmission instruments at all and ensuring <strong>the</strong> correct<br />

oil level is all that can be done. In most piston-engine machines, <strong>the</strong> transmission can<br />

withstand more torque than <strong>the</strong> engine can deliver and so it is difficult to overstress <strong>the</strong>

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