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The Art of the Helicopter John Watkinson - Karatunov.net

The Art of the Helicopter John Watkinson - Karatunov.net

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

rating <strong>of</strong> an engine is based largely on <strong>the</strong> temperature and rotational forces <strong>the</strong> blades<br />

at <strong>the</strong> hot end can withstand between overhauls. <strong>The</strong> oil-and air-cooling system will be<br />

designed to cope with <strong>the</strong>se conditions. If <strong>the</strong>se conditions are exceeded, <strong>the</strong> blade life<br />

will be reduced as higher than normal temperatures would increase <strong>the</strong> rate at which <strong>the</strong><br />

blades creep or extend. <strong>The</strong> oil temperature may also rise. However, such conditions<br />

can be tolerated for a short time and an engine can be given a higher ‘contingency’<br />

rating which it could only reliably tolerate for a few minutes. <strong>The</strong>re may also be an<br />

even higher emergency rating that might only be sustainable for half a minute. If an<br />

engine failure is experienced during a critical phase <strong>of</strong> flight, <strong>the</strong> remaining engine<br />

would exceed its normal operating limits by entering contingency power to make up<br />

a good deal <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> power lost.<br />

If an engine enters one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se conditions, an indicator that can only be reset on <strong>the</strong><br />

ground operates and a timer runs to measure <strong>the</strong> degree <strong>of</strong> overload. <strong>The</strong> use <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se<br />

contingency power ratings in some cases may put <strong>the</strong> engine under such stress that it<br />

will need immediate and substantial parts replacement, particularly in <strong>the</strong> area <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

blades at <strong>the</strong> hot end, but <strong>the</strong> frequency with which this happens is so low that <strong>the</strong><br />

saving in fuel when <strong>the</strong> engines are working normally is <strong>of</strong> more consequence.<br />

As machines have multiple engines for safety, it should be clear that adequate power<br />

should be available with one engine failed. With all engines running, more power is<br />

available than is needed. In this case <strong>the</strong> machine is flown normally by remaining<br />

within <strong>the</strong> transmission torque limits, whereas in <strong>the</strong> case <strong>of</strong> an engine failure <strong>the</strong><br />

machine is flown within <strong>the</strong> ratings <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> remaining engines. Figure 8.11 shows <strong>the</strong><br />

example <strong>of</strong> a twin-engine machine in which <strong>the</strong> remaining engine will provide 140%<br />

Fig. 8.11 One engine inoperative (OEI) conditions. If <strong>the</strong> remaining engine can provide 70% <strong>of</strong> transmission<br />

limit, with low AUW, nearly all <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> flight envelope is available at contingency power, and a useful cruise<br />

envelope is available at non-contingency, or 50% <strong>of</strong> transmission limit. Such a machine could fly a long way<br />

after a failure. At high AUW, <strong>the</strong> machine can only stay airborne using contingency power, so it has to land<br />

before <strong>the</strong> time limit expires.

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