Re: number of rotor blades

About 2 years ago Herman Hospital in Houston, TX lost a BK117 due to a M/R
blade loss.  They were on approach, I seem to recall about 100 ft AGL, and
broke a TT strap (badly corroded). The M/R gearbox left the aircraft and all
3 souls were lost.  This was the first time a blade had slung in the BO105
(same head) or BK117 history. Then I remember years ago Donald Trumps Agusta
A109 lost a blade up in NY with several of his VP's aboard.  All were
killed.  Then there were the M/R spindle problems with the S76 when it first
came out. Your right though, a M/R separation is very, very rare.  JC

"Stan Gosnell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Curious Question <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in
> news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]:
>
> >> Stan Gosnell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> >
> >> It isn't survivable, just as losing a wing on an airplane isn't
> >> survivable, except in the most unusual of circumstances.
> >
> > Stan..... Do you have any idea as to how often a blade has been
> > thrown since the invention of the helicopter, gyro, etc.
> >
> > How about in the last decade.
>
> It's pretty seldom, I suspect about the same frequency as airplanes losing
> wings.  The only one I've heard of recently is a Sikorsky S76 which lost a
> blade (actually the blade broke off relatively close to the head) over the
> North Sea last year.  All aboard were lost.  The blade had been previously
> hit by lightning, and this coupled with a manufacturing defect caused it
to
> fail.  Losing a main rotor blade on a certificated helicopter is very
rare,
> unless it's in conjunction with a collision, where the blades hit
something
> and subsequently fail.  I fly them for a living, and losing a MR blade is
> something I just don't worry about.
>
> The NTSB, and perhaps other national aviation safety agencies, publishes
> summaries of all aviation accidents in the US, going back to 1962, and
it's
> searchable.  You should be able to find what you're looking for there, at
> least for the USA.  http://www.ntsb.gov/aviation/aviation.htm
>
> -- 
> Regards,
>
> Stan
>