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Aviation History
1988
1988 - 0527.PDF
GENERAL AVIATION Chinook claim continues ABERDEEN A lawyer has dismissed specu lation of a prompt judgement on whether a US court can hear a compensation claim against Boeing Helicopter following an accident in the North Sea. Scotland-based David Burnside is represent ing most of the bereaved relatives of the 45 men who died when the British International Helicopters Commercial Chinook came down in November 1986. Boeing Helicopter has presented fresh submissions to a Philadelphia judge in a bid to persuade him to rule that the law suit cannot be heard in the USA, a move which is likely to delay further any decision and the possi bility of compensation. A US hearing would be advan tageous to the bereaved, who would stand to gain a higher level of compensation than if it were in Scotland. The UK Department of Transport accident investiga tion report has yet to be published, but a fatal accident inquiry in Aberdeen last year found that a Boeing Helicop ter modification to a trans mission component led to rotor desynchronisation. According to Burnside, Boeing Helicopter says that it will contest the case if it is heard in the USA, but not if it is heard in Scotland. He regards this as an admission of liability, but says that the US judge might rule that the case must be heard in the UK, in which circumstance Burn side will appeal. A two-year statute of limitation means that proceedings must start by November of this year, though it could be some time after that before any compensation would be paid. The bereaved have so far received nothing. Daedalus emulates Icarus EDWARDS AFB In an unintended parody of mythology, Daedalus, a man- powered aircraft, has come to grief during tests—and the Sun has been blamed. In Greek mythology, Daedalus and Icarus flew aloft on wings of feathers held together by wax. Icarus flew too near to the Sun, the wax melted, and he plunged to the ground. Today's Daedalus is a 701b, 112ft-span craft produced by staff and students at Massa chusetts Institute of Tech nology under sponsorship from United Technologies. MIT's intention to set a world record by flying 74 miles from Crete to Santorini (Icarus' supposed route), received a setback during a test flight last month. After about 17min flying, pilot Erik Schmidt attempted a right turn, during which the left wing lifted, causing the starboard wingtip and the fuselage to strike the ground. The aircraft, dubbed Daedalus 87, has been Man-powered aircraft Daedalus is seen at Edwards AFB before crashing due to solar turbulence. It is being rebuilt Schweizer prepares new helicopter Schweizer Aircraft expects to deliver the first examples next year of its new 330 helicopter, which is scheduled to fly this month. The helicopter retains the dynamic system from the piston-powered Schweizer 300, but introduces turbine power in the form of the Allison 225-C10A (derated from 350 s.h.p. to 200 s.h.p.). The three-/four-occupant cabin measures 67-6in wide by 53-3in high, both dimensions being at the seat. Overall helicopter height is given as 8ft 8in, and overall length 12ft lOin. Landing-gear track width is 6ft 6in. Normal gross weight is 2,0501b, or 1001b higher with an externally slung load. Performance at gross weight includes a 105 m.p.h. cruise, 290-mile maximum range (at 4,000ft without reserves), and a 13,000ft out-of-ground-effect hover at 35°C, according to the manufacturer. returned to MIT. Project spokeswoman Peggie Scott says that the cause of the acci dent "was definitely not pilot error". Rather, it was turbulence due to solar heat ing of Rogers Dry Lake over which the craft was flying. The FAI world record was set by their own Light Eagle prototype HPA which flew 36-6 miles in January 1987, piloted by Glenn Tremml. In January, the project had set an ambitious schedule which called,for the team to fly to Greece on March 8. That has now been put back to March 19, although Daedalus 87 is likely to reach Europe a few days earlier. Daedalus 87 was expected to have been rebuilt by March 5. Flight understands that the fuselage was demolished in the accident and that further damage was sustained in a road traffic accident during transit back to MIT.' A second machine, Daedalus 88, has been taken to Edwards AFB arid may have flown by early March; At one time consideration '/had been given to fitting ailerons to this aircraft, but no deci sion had been made to incor porate them before its first flight. Helicopter cowl struck rotor SYDNEY ~ The Australian firm which supplied the MBB BK.117 which was ditched by a New South Wales Police pilot at Balmoral Beach, Sydney, last month claims that separation of the port engine cowl caused control difficulties. Pacific Aviation, the Australian agent for MBB, says that one or more blades of the four-blade rotor were severely damaged when the cowl separated in flight at 1,500ft. The pilot was able to maintain only partial control of the helicopter and elected to fly several miles to water for a ditching rather than risk injury to occupants by attempting a normal landing. The helicopter was en route to a rescue and had been deliv ered to the police force in May 1987. An Australian Bureau of Air Safety investigation is under way. FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL, 5 March 1988 15
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