AW139 Will Be First Helicopter With A 60+ Minutes "Run Dry" Capability

AgustaWestland has successfully demonstrated to the Italian Airworthiness Authority – Ente Nazionale Aviation Civile (ENAC) a 60+ minutes loss of oil or “run dry” capability for the AW139 main gearbox (MGB). The AW139 will be the first helicopter ever to enter service with such a capability, which is 30 minutes more than any other currently certified competing helicopter.

Following 63 minutes of testing, the AW139 main gearbox was disassembled and the components inspected. Although some components had sustained some damage due to lack of lubrication, overall they were in very good condition. The testing provided evidence that AgustaWestland’s design approach and the proprietary way in which residual oil is distributed make it possible to extend the run dry period from the basic 30 minutes requirement to more than 60 minutes.

Current civil airworthiness authorities’ rules state that during any failure resulting in total loss of lubricant the aircraft must be capable of safe operation for at least 30 minutes after the crew is alerted to the problem. AgustaWestland with these results is setting new standards of safety in the industry and anticipating future airworthiness rules.

The company says the benchmark was made possible by AgustaWestland’s long established leadership and expertise in transmission system and gearbox design, the quality of the AW139 MGB basic design as well as leveraging on the new generation AW189 main gearbox technology. The AW189’s unique 50 minutes run dry capability were certified by EASA in early 2014 and benefit from the Family concept approach. Some of the AW189 MGB characteristics were transferred into the AW139 MGB to further enhance its run dry capabilities, to ensure even greater levels of reliability and safety in the event of loss of oil.

This new enhancement is also beneficial to the AW139M, increasing its survivability in demanding battlefield scenarios. This new configuration will soon be available (and can be retro-fitted to existing AW139 MGB) as an option for customers wanting increased safety and extended performance after loss of oil, something of particular interest for offshore operations.

(Image provided by AgustaWestland)

FMI: www.agustawestland.com