Dampers

[Nick]

Has anyone else had dampers fail within low hours? I have had 3 new dampers fail within 50 hours. The late Bernard Finch had also had 3 dampers fail on a new machine possibly with similar hours? I have taken posted advice to shorthen damper travel with a 1/32 inch washer with considerable improvement even with separated dampers still in. However comfortable cruise is stll only about 85 mph (up from 80mph). In NZ we do fly regularly in windy conditions. 3 days ago I arrived at base and had to land in 19knots gusting 34 knots. Brantly handled it fine despite my nervousness.

[9121u]

Make sure your blades are are in line with inboard blades if they are lagging aft or forward its going to make dampners work harder and wear out quicker. if it were i would not put any shims on dampners because this is going shock wright and viberation is transmint to the main blades. and could cause cracks remember any modifcations on well tested certified aircraft. can cause other problems. i would replace with new dampners check year on dampners that failed there stamped.


FLY SAFELY

[Nick]

Thanks for comments. The dampers were supplied by Brantly new in September 2005. I also replaced all the bolts and bushes between inner and outer blades. The dampers had all separated by mid february 2006. At over $800 per set its getting expensive. The outer blades are all rigged dead straight- on a string line. There is absolutely no feed back into controls below 80 mph even with full collective - so blades are balanced OK. Blades may need fine tuning to tracking but not much. In a good month I should be doing about 20 -30 hours. The only other clue is that I am lacking power. I've been flying in high temp and humidity giving a density altitude of about 2500 ft at sea level but at full max I've got to maintain all revs as collective is pulled to hover. Any decay cant be retreived during lift off.

[9121u]

HI again try checking the distance on outer blades between the bays.at the tips i would call brantly to see if they made of had gotting a bad run of dampners. or call loard co. in erie p.a. they are the ones who makes them. because if every thing is correct on your ship they should last for many hours. Thats why i asked abought the date on them they have a shelf time because there made of molded rubber good luck.

[9121u]

i did some figuring and sounds like this old post may of caused the blade cracking????don't know for sure.i think matter needs looked in to more and back at old post of how he worked on this helicopter???? but i no you should not alter blade dampeners by shimming with washers....brantly was not designed that way any one else have thing to say abought this.just trying to stop that ad that might come out for no reason....the FAA should look into to this better........had to bring this old post up to show a point here....that's all.....thanks tom

[scrapper]

thanks to Tom and others for the memories and insights here,

typical, looks like someone erred and blames the brand .Scrapper
cof