407's

[twinstar_ca]

were you thinking the salt environment down there, CTD?? if that's the case, i wonder what kind of shape 407D's birds were in when they arrived... if i'm not mistaken, they came from PHI did they not?? :mellow:

 

[407 Driver]

When we flogged the 3 - 350B2's we bought 3 - 407's from PHI. (to join the 3 already in Canada)
The PHI ships were from S/N 60 to 150, or 96 to 98 models with about 4,000 hrs each on them. They were dirty, but I've seen that with other maritime operated aircraft. I fondly remember scrubbing many a 58T that came back from Singapore with OKie. Ah, those long days using MEK in the confined 58 tailboom, who needs all those extra brain cells anyway. :blink: :unsure: :wacko:
Generally, the maintenance seemed to be OK with the PHI ships, but as CTD says, it is a harsh environment to operate in. I wonder if all the electronics can handle it? I know that we're pretty darn careful with water around the FADEC harness junctions, etc.

Time will tell just what is going on? It is interesting that only one company seems to be having the problems down there?

 

[Heli Ops]

Over Talk - Dont worry about it. No offence taken.

407D - It doesnt just seem to be PHI, although they seem to have some problems that need addressing, look at Tex Air and the number of incidents or accidents they have had in the GOM over the past year or so. What is it, about three or four machines now. Not acceptable in any area of the industry.

What I cant work out is it is both daytime and night time where the problems are occuring. Now if it was single pilot night VFR then Yes I woulc understand the problem but its a whole range of things. Makes you really wonder.

I wouldnt think there would be much stress on the aircraft as they are basically flying from Point A to Point B, landing and then off back to base again. Is this right, or can someone else enlighten me here.

CTD - You might have some insight into any sort of problems that the 407 has with salt water, apart from when it gets submerged.

This short of shite shouldnt have to happen before people start taking note and changing things. It should be preventitive action not reaction, as seems to be the case in the GOM.

Anyway just my thoughts.

Heli Ops

 

[CTD]

I guess I should have kept my mouth shut. Again.

I represent the Minister on most of these accidents (because the a/c is Canadian made), but I really don't have any meaty info that isn't already in the public domain. Nobody in any of those circles has cited corrosion or environmental issues as being a factor an any recent event, I'm just thinking out loud. Or, more correctly, in print. OK, in cyberspace.

The recent accident rate in the GOM, compared to the rest of the planet, seems to be an anomaly. This has been spread across many operators, not just PHI, and have been attributed to both mechanical and non-mechanical causes.

 

[TDK]

does PHI have a PHPA content?

If so, does this Association (which runs itself like a Union) maybe have a negative impact on the quality of pilots?
Perhaps what I'm saying is, how effectively can PHI rid itself of poor performance from the pilot side?

 

[RotorPilot]

Hi TDK

Read this from JustHelicopters.com


57794
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Date: December 02, 2003 at 18:33:55
From: Current PHI Pilot,
Subject: Re: Crash In Gulf Today


As most of the rest of the posts on the accident you are incorrect. There have not been 12 accidents at PHI this year. The pilot was not a new, underpaid, forced to fly when he shouldn't have pilot. He was very senior and the victim of a mechanical failure.

Not so long ago another operator in the gulf went through a streak of accidents. It's just our turn. Why? Who knows? I can assure you that management is doing everything possible to stop this. We've been through it before and we'll go through it again. It's the nature of the business.

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I yhink you should read the whole tread:

http://www.justhelicopters.com/cgi-local/t...p&msg_num=57650