How Frequently Should Commercial Helicopters Be Serviced?
Like most transportation vessels, aircraft need to be regularly serviced to ensure proper functionality. As such, there are many different ways of scheduling maintenance and services for different aircraft. For example, all commercial planes need to be inspected prior to each flight, while light aircraft are annually checked after being in service for a specific number of hours. In the case of commercial helicopters, maintenance is a routine procedure used to guarantee safe flying conditions.
Servicing for commercial helicopters is dependent on how often it is flown. It is common for manufacturers to use flight hours instead of time frames to indicate when a commercial helicopter needs to be serviced. As an example, it is recommended to perform oil changes after every 25 hours of flying. The most common inspection on a helicopter consists of the daily or pre-flight inspection.
This inspection requires a mechanic or engineer to complete routine inspections after a day of flying. They will normally open up each access panel and check for fluid leaks, chafing wires, loose nuts & bolts, missing hardware, and broken or cracked components. Each inspection should take anywhere between 10 minutes to 2 hours depending on the size and complexity of the helicopter. During this inspection, mechanics should wipe down helicopter components to remove oil, dust, and debris to identify any cracks or fractures on the vessel.
Other services like checking critical bolts that connect the propeller to the engine should also be a part of routine procedure. Furthermore, it is important to check aircraft tires for wear and tear as they may need to be replaced. Moreover, before each flight, there must be a series of visual inspections to ensure that everything is in working order. Some of these inspections include checking the cable connections, fuel levels, engine oil levels, and internal parts. It is also critical to look under the area where the helicopter is parked to confirm that nothing is leaking.
Also, most aircraft part manufacturers will typically create a maintenance program that best suits each aircraft. More than that, there are various components that should be regularly checked and replaced regardless of the helicopter’s flight hours as certain parts have limited service lives. In particular, helicopter rotor blade parts are routinely replaced as they have a time limit on their proper functioning. Most manufacturers have a data sheet that provides a list of aircraft part inventory to ensure pilots and mechanics are well-informed of the life-limited parts on their aircraft.
As per the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), there are “A”, “B”, “C”, and “D” checks that are required for aircraft. “A” checks are usually performed after clocking in 125 flight hours and take place overnight at the gate. “B” checks occur at the aircraft hangar every six months. “C” checks take about two weeks to complete and are performed every two years. Lastly, “D” checks take about two months to complete and are performed every six years. As routine checks are commonplace in the aviation industry, there are often various components that need to be replaced. With this in mind, you should only acquire components and parts of the highest caliber to ensure your aircraft is always functioning optimally.
If you find yourself in need of aviation parts, rely on NSN Purchasing for all your procurement needs. NSN Purchasing is an online distributor of aircrafts parts and other various components that accommodate a diverse set of industries. Peruse our expansive online catalogs consisting of over 2 billion new, used, obsolete, and hard-to-find parts. When you find a listing that sparks your interest, we invite you to fill out and submit an RFQ form. Upon receival of the form, a dedicated representative will reach out to you with a personalized quote in just 15 minutes or less. Thank you for choosing NSN Purchasing as your sourcing solution.
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