Engine Failure Caused Apache To Crash Land
Monday, 18th October 2010
The Defence Minister, Teo Chee Hean, said that it was a defective component in an Apache helicopter from Squadron 120 that caused the pilot to do an emergency crash landing in an open field in Woodlands. The defective component was an Anti-Ice Start Bleed Valve (AISBV) that had led to a sudden loss of power and eventually shut-down of both engines during flight. The defect was caused by corrosion in the valve which occurred over time and there was no evidence that there were manufacturing defects in those valves.
Currently, there are no stipulated maintenance checks that would allow such internal corrosion in the AISBV to be detected by the maintainers. The maintenance procedure does not call for the RSAF to open up the AISBV as it could only be done by the engine manufacturer - GE Aviation. Currently the AISBV needs to be replaced only after a fault code appears in the aircraft computer during flight, or when running the engine on the ground for tests. He mentioned that the maintenance procedures are now being studied with the manufacturers to see if they need to be modified.
Each RSAF Apache Helicopter has two General Electric T700-GE-701C turboshaft engines which was manufactured by GE Aviation, a division of General Electric Company. GE Aviation is the world's leading producer of jet engines for both commercial and military aircraft.
Off-site Photo:
General Electric T700-GE-701C Engine.