Germany calls a halt to NH90 flights over safety fears
Germany has slapped a self-imposed temporary grounding order
on its army’s fleet of NH Industries (NHI) NH90 helicopters
following the discovery of a “design flaw” with the aircraft’s electrical
system.
Berlin says that all routine flights of its 10.6t rotorcraft have
been “temporarily suspended” afterAirbus Helicopters, which
assembles the German troop transport helicopters at its
Donauwörth facility, identified a fault with the NH90’s overhead
control panel.
been “temporarily suspended” afterAirbus Helicopters, which
assembles the German troop transport helicopters at its
Donauwörth facility, identified a fault with the NH90’s overhead
control panel.
The airframer’s recommendation follows a 19 June incident
involving a TTH variant in Termez, Uzbekistan when the helicopter
(TGEA18) was forced to make an emergency landing after an
engine failure and subsequent shutdown of a large number of its
electrical systems.
involving a TTH variant in Termez, Uzbekistan when the helicopter
(TGEA18) was forced to make an emergency landing after an
engine failure and subsequent shutdown of a large number of its
electrical systems.
Germany’s defence ministry says the “design flaw” can cause a
potential electrical short circuit when the engine fire extinguishing
system is used.
potential electrical short circuit when the engine fire extinguishing
system is used.
This led the flight safety board of the ministry’s aviation
authority to recommend temporarily suspending routine flights
with the NH90 over flight-safety concerns while the manufacturer
develops a fix.
authority to recommend temporarily suspending routine flights
with the NH90 over flight-safety concerns while the manufacturer
develops a fix.
Airbus Helicopters
However, Airbus Helicopters insists that the restriction is not
required and that the helicopter is safe to fly: “Industry
has assessed there is no short-term airworthiness issue and
herefore recommends to continue flights. NHI is launching a
modification in order to improve [the] design.”
required and that the helicopter is safe to fly: “Industry
has assessed there is no short-term airworthiness issue and
herefore recommends to continue flights. NHI is launching a
modification in order to improve [the] design.”
It says that NHI contacted all operators on 9 February,
advising them of the issue and its recommendation.
advising them of the issue and its recommendation.
Airbus Helicopters is the largest shareholder in the NHI
consortium, followed by AgustaWestland of Italy and Fokker
of the Netherlands.
consortium, followed by AgustaWestland of Italy and Fokker
of the Netherlands.
Flightglobal’s Ascend Fleets database records the German
army as operating a total of 37 NH90s, with a further 26 on
order.
army as operating a total of 37 NH90s, with a further 26 on
order.
Ingen kommentarer:
Legg inn en kommentar
Merk: Bare medlemmer av denne bloggen kan legge inn en kommentar.