Sikorsky Readies for Certification of Beefier S-92A+ Gearbox | Aviation International News

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Sikorsky Readies for S-92A+ Gearbox Certification

Company has spent more than $100 million and a decade on its development

Sikorsky's test S-92 equipped with the new Phase IV gearbox — Sikorsky’s test S-92 equipped with the new Phase IV gearbox lands at the company’s Stratford, Connecticut headquarters during a pre-Verticon media briefing at the end of February. The Phase IV has tallied more than 200 flight hours. © Sikorsky

By Curt Epstein • Business Aviation Services Editor

March 10, 2025

It was more than a decade ago when Sikorsky began developing a solution to counter the possibility of loss of main gearbox lubricating oil pressure on its large-cabin S-92 helicopter. The impetus behind the project was the 2009 crash of an S-92 about 50 miles off the Canadian Atlantic Coast after mounting studs on the helicopter’s oil filter failed in flight, causing a complete loss of gearbox lubrication.

While the OEM swiftly remedied that particular situation, it self-initiated a system-wide redesign process to ensure any future S-92s encountering that highly rare instance would be safe.

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