Airbus Helicopters April 22 said the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certified the redesigned Airbus EC225 vertical bevel gear shaft, which allows production to begin and installation on all rotorcraft of this type operating globally as well as those being produced.
The certification is expected to be followed by validation from other international airworthiness authorities.
EC225
Photo: Airbus Helicopters
Manufacturing has begun on the redesigned gear shaft, allowing worldwide implementation on aircraft in service and in production starting the second half of 2014.
“Airbus Helicopters has put a very high priority on developing this new shaft for the EC225. EASA’s certification is a major milestone towards getting our customers flying with the final solution,” said Jean-Brice Dumont, Airbus Helicopters’ executive vice president – engineering.
The new design eliminates all three factors that, in combination, had caused two unexpected vertical shaft ruptures, the company said in an April 22 statement. It provides corrosion resistance, compensates for residual stress and eliminates stress hot spots.
Following two EC225 controlled ditchings in the North Sea in 2012 and the suspension of part of the aircraft’s fleet, precautionary and preventive measures were immediately developed by Airbus Helicopters and successfully implemented by operators, leading to a full return to service.
As the latest evolution of Airbus Helicopters’ Super Puma family, more than 200 EC225/725s have been delivered to 35 operators, accumulating more than 350,000 flight hours. Tailored for the most demanding operators, the workhorse EC225 is an 11-ton helicopter integrating all of the latest technological innovations.