AgustaWestland Sets New 'Run Dry' Standard for Helicopters
AgustaWestland’s AW189 medium twin can run for 50 minutes after loss of gearbox lubrication, a condition that has caused several incidents among large transport category helicopters recently.
AgustaWestland’s AW189 medium twin can run for 50 minutes after loss of gearbox lubrication, a condition that has caused several incidents among large transport category helicopters recently.

Loss of lubrication to the main gearbox (MGB) has been responsible for several crashes, ditchings and precautionary landings in large transport category helicopters in recent years. These accidents set off broad debate as to exactly what is required of main gearboxes under Part 29 certification of the U.S. Federal Aviation Regulations, even as OEMs devised fixes for actual or perceived deficiencies of these components and their related lubrication systems. Chief among the certification requirements, that has caused some confusion, is the assumption that gearboxes must be shown capable of running without lubrication for up to 30 minutes.

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