Ec130b4

[407 Driver]

..following a couple of threads on justhelicopters.com Re: the B4,

seems there's troubles in paradise...
-no support, Blue Hawaiian has one parked for Parts, stripped to keep the others flying, as the factory can't supply.
-Poor power, the Las Veags tour boys are complaining about power and T/R (anti-torque) authority with all seats full.
-No certified hook?

Are there any in Canada Yet?

 

[bubbleboy]

Having flown the EC 120, I'm convinced that aircraft with fenestron T/R's are not for commercial/utility type ops. They are only good for one thing - noise abatement. Flying from downtown Manhattan to the Hamptons etc.

 

[Heli Ops]

407Driver - Just checked in with friends at Blue and seems the info is correct. One ship is parked in the hangar and stripped down to keep the others running. Its not because of mechanical problems but because parts are not available. Seems like Eurocopter didnt think they would be flying them as much as they do.

Blue take delivery of ships nine and ten in the next six weeks.

Bubbleboy - Depends on what you do with them as to where they excel. We have four here in New Zealand with another two coming and one of them is being used to take fishermen and hunters in and out of the mountains. Not sure if they are putting a hook on it but will find out.

So far all those that I have spoken to think it is a great machine, but again, once someone actually puts it into the utility role, then we will see how it really goes.

Heli Ops

 

[407 Driver]

Thanks for the factual update HeliOps. I wonder if you can longline out of a 130, I've never saw one in real life, but if it's wider than an Astar, I suspect you'll have to cut a hole in the floor? or at least drive it from the LH side? comments?

 

[Heli Ops]

407Driver - All EC130s are left hand drive so I think there would be a good chance that you can sling out the left side 😀 😀

Heli Ops

 

[4961]

Ummmm I dunno. I had the chance to take the B4 for a spin around the block this spring. Interesting ship. I don't think that it would be too good sling out of though. The left drive sits far enough in the cabin that getting out past the collective to look down would be a reach.
The tail took lots of throw, kind of like a 500, in the pedals to get the input that was needed.
On a positive note, does the cabin have a lot of room. Infront of the dual front seat there is enough room for a square dance. That being said the baggage compartment is no bigger than a normal Astar. No basket at this point either.
I think that the B4 will find it's place in the world, but I don't think that it'll be in the bush.

 

[widgeon]

dart were working on a basket , I think that Onboard Systems have a hook , the factory I believe was working with them also as Siren seem to have a few problems . Probably not a utility machine fer sure not sure how many you will see in Canada but who would have thunk there would be a Koala here !!Nice pics in that other unnamed magazine this month.

 

[Heli Ops]

Widgeon - I know that one of Blue's machines on the Big Island has a hook on it and has been OAS approved for fire fighting etc.

There are also a few in Europe that are being used for utility work and have got emails into the guys to see how they are going. Will post what I find out here.

Heli Ops

 

[RDM]

Bunch of the gang here gave it a pretty good once over here in the hangar one night when it was passin thru and all pretty much came up with the same thoughts.

Would make maybe at best a OK bush machine but would be great for the Ski or Tour business. Very roomy cabin with great visibilty for all, although it felt as if you were sitting right on the floor in the pilots seat with your legs straight out.
For vertical reference, even a short a$$ like me could hang out the left side with enough vis to see a line.

Tail (fenestrom) almost seemed as a afterthought though, freakin thing is humugus, looks like it came of someting much much larger, and would appear that the aircraft would be tail heavy, altought appearence are normally decieving.

Overall, nope ............. still think the 407 is the "sled" in the category.

(can i have that hat now 407D) 😉

 

[Heli Ops]

RDM - You are right about the Fenestron on the EC130. That aircraft is actually made up of parts from three specific aircraft. The main centre section from start of the tail boom to the back end of the cabin is AS350-B3 but I think the running gear is upgraded B2 stuff. The tailboom and Fenstron is from the EC135 but the blades on that go reverse direction, because the 135 was German built hence its main blades go opposite direction to those on the AS350.

The front cabin is basically EC120 with a plug put into the middle, ie: they sawed it down the middle, made it wider and glued it back together. The reason it is so bulbous is that in the AS350 the sides of the aircraft start tapering inwards towards the nose from behind the passenger seats. However on the EC130 the sides are straight until it gets to the pilots seat and then starts curving, hence a lot more room and that ugly look across the front.

Hope that helps.

Heli Ops

P.S. It was actually grandfather claused in under the AS350 Type Cert so it didnt have to get recertified. Thats why it is actually an AS350-B4 but known as an EC130-B4.

 

[widgeon]

I think the landing gear is probably the only major EC130 specific part on the aircraft ( aside from the canajun made belly and engine cowlings.). If i recall correctly there are not too many other parts. Has tech tool come up with after market winders yet ?

 

[RDM]

Heli-ops

Man oh man, LMAO, thanks for the great discription honestly, but was sitting here reading your post and thinking out loud about this part here and that part there, this piece spinning this way in German and that part spinnig that way in French................when my 6 yr old looked at me and said "Dad are you OK?" (I am still laughing, man i gotta get a hobbie 🙄 🙄 )

 

[Heli Ops]

Widgeon - There must be quite a few EC130 specific engine parts because that is why Blues machine is hangar bound all the time as they use it to support the others.

The landing gear was specifically designed for the 130 and it is actually impossible to get ground resonance because of the way it is designed. The air also circulates in a different manner between the skids and therefore it now lands flat like a 500 and not right rear low like the other AS350 series.

Dont know if TT have made replacement windows for it yet, but again will try and find out.

Heli Ops

 

[widgeon]

I forgot about the Fadec with the training mode and the dual hydraulic servos ( twinstar version ?) .
Are many of the parts problems with the Turbomeca supplied parts ?. I have been subjected to several rants over the years from a DOM of an EMS provider in Alberta concerning TM donks.
To all the antipodean posters , should be a great game next week but the Ozzies will be crying in their fosters next week !!.