Australian Army CH-47D Chinooks grounded over control issues

The army's five twin-rotor Chinook helicopters have been grounded because of a serious technical fault.

The Defence Department provided only scant details of "possible issues" with the aircraft's Advanced Flight Control System in "certain flight conditions".

The AFCS assists with the stability of the aircraft and helps the pilot to maintain control by reducing the workload and keeping the machine where the pilot wants it.

It is understood that the investigation of a Chinook crash in Afghanistan in late May, which claimed the life of army pilot Lieutenant Marcus Case, triggered possible concerns about the flight control system.

The machine, designated Dark and Stormy, turned on its side before crashing into the ground during a familiarisation flight.

he concerns were raised by the Defence Science and Technology Organisation and the army's airworthiness branch.

The AFCS is a vital piece of kit in inherently unstable aircraft such as the CH-47D Chinook.

During the cruise phase of a flight the system can hold a fixed altitude, speed and heading.

Director-General of Army Aviation, Brigadier Neil Turton, said the flight suspension was to ensure the helicopters' safety and that it was consistent with army operational airworthiness procedures. "The precautionary suspension will remain in place pending technical analysis of flight data by Defence and Boeing," Brigadier Turton said.

The suspension applies to the two CH-47D Chinook aircraft deployed to Kandahar airfield in Afghanistan in support of International Security Assistance Force operations.

Brigadier Turton said ISAF was well supported by a range of military and contracted helicopters, and the grounding "is not expected to have an impact on the conduct of operations".

Of the remaining three, one is deployed in Papua New Guinea, one is on Horn Island in the Torres Strait and the final aircraft at home base in Townsville.

A source said the grounding was nothing out of the ordinary and the length of the suspension would depend on how long it took for army and Boeing technicians to study the data.

The Chinook is the workhorse of the military's rotary wing fleet and is capable of lifting huge loads and carrying a large number of troops and cargo.

The Australian army has operated Chinook helicopters since 1973 but the CH-47Ds are a relatively recent acquisition with the first delivered in 1995.


Source: By Ian McPhedran, Defence Writer - October 06, 2011 - www.perthnow.com.au

Photo Story: A Chinook helicopter near the Pakistan border north-east of Kandahar.

Picture: Army grounds its CH-47D Chinooks (AdelaideNow)


(6.10.2011)