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New Bell 525 reporting 200 knots?

Randy Daytona

Cold War Relic
pilot
Super Moderator
Have read that the 525 was flying in excess of 190 knots which is screaming fast for a conventional helicopter. Also, the tail boom was found over 450 meters away from the wreckage. Being a test aircraft, I am sure they had instruments reading and recording absolutely everything - and warning if they got to close to any parameters. Doubt if it was anything as simple blade stall - only time will tell.
 

ChuckMK23

FERS and TSP contributor!
pilot
More details - I find it remarkable that the Chase aircraft was not continuously recording video of the test aircraft during the flight. In this day and age where the technology exists and go pro cameras are everywhere with multi gigabyte of storage.

I did not realize the two test pilots were Ours. Fair winds...did anyone know them?

http://www.aviationtoday.com/mobile/getitem.php?item=88253
 

IKE

Nerd Whirler
pilot
More details - I find it remarkable that the Chase aircraft was not continuously recording video of the test aircraft during the flight. In this day and age where the technology exists and go pro cameras are everywhere with multi gigabyte of storage.
I don't know about Civilian flight test, but at NAVAIR, flight clearances for new hardware aren't exactly easy to get, so we tend to fly with still-cameras that were cleared for flight before GoPros were a thing.
 

Slingblade

Huge Member
pilot
I did not realize the two test pilots were Ours. Fair winds...did anyone know them?

http://www.aviationtoday.com/mobile/getitem.php?item=88253

I deployed to OIF with "Backstreet" Boyce back in 2008 with HMLA 369. Was one of our WTI's and worked his butt off in operations department. Real smart dude and obviously a skilled aviator. Was just talking to my old XO about him a few weeks ago before this happened. Lost a lot of folks I've known over the years in this business either due to mishaps or direct enemy action. I definitely never took this job or tomorrow for granted because of it. Have another anniversary coming up when we lost Dealer 54 out in Afghanistan five years ago on June 22, 2010. I can never remember birthdays, but I remember all these days. It's thinking of their families that they leave behind that always make it hurt.
 

Randy Daytona

Cold War Relic
pilot
Super Moderator
https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-...-04/ntsb-bell-525-suffered-main-blade-strikes

The NTSB is looking at why the main rotor blades struck both the tailboom and the nose during the July 6 in-flight break-up sequence that destroyed Bell 525 FTV1 (flight test vehicle 1) and killed both test pilots. FTV1 was believed to be conducting tests at or near Vne speeds when main rotor rpms dropped off and the main rotors significantly “departed their normal plane of rotation,” according to an NTSB spokesman. The Board also issued a brief preliminary report this week.
 

rotorhead1871

UH-1N.....NAS Agana, Guam....circa 1975
pilot
The office I work in is the responsible certifying authority for the FAA in certifying the Bell 525. It is most definitely an interesting program to be involved with. I believe the 200 kt figure is in level flight. It is most likely one of Bell's top priorities as they've relied heavily on legacy programs in the past.
very nice looking airframe and enough blades to stay away from detrimental retreating blade stall until the safe top speed is established......200KIAS is cooking it along though...!!
 

rotorhead1871

UH-1N.....NAS Agana, Guam....circa 1975
pilot
https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-...-04/ntsb-bell-525-suffered-main-blade-strikes

The NTSB is looking at why the main rotor blades struck both the tailboom and the nose during the July 6 in-flight break-up sequence that destroyed Bell 525 FTV1 (flight test vehicle 1) and killed both test pilots. FTV1 was believed to be conducting tests at or near Vne speeds when main rotor rpms dropped off and the main rotors significantly “departed their normal plane of rotation,” according to an NTSB spokesman. The Board also issued a brief preliminary report this week.


wow that is a crazy scenario to try to put back together, messing around Vne ..and losing Nr....which is happening at or around max power...sounds like power train fail....(guessing) but why would that make the rotor plane go nuts???
 
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