Wichita Falls, Texas: Thursday, February 24, 2000

REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS UNDERWAY

ROTOR:

Since the accident on December 16, 1999, the design of a new 43 ½ foot diameter rotor has been completed. Listed below are the items completed in regards to the rotor:
 

1. Completed airfoil design. New design has better L/D ratio than previous blade for both conventional airflow over the advancing blade and reverse airflow over the retreating blades.

2. Completed the 40-ft long rotor spar mold for the new rotor

3. Completed spar lay-up.

4. Completed design and detailed drawings for rotor head, blade hub and related parts.

5. Completed new rotor blade mold plug.

PROPELLER:

The propeller tip was damaged at the time of the accident. Rather than repair the prop, a new prop is being built. The new prop will be made using prepreg rather than wet layup. The diameter has been increased from 94" to 96" and the cuff modified to more closely fit a larger diameter spinner. These changes allow a four-bladed prop to be built using the new tooling and capable of handling up to 700 HP. Listed below are the items completed in regards to the propeller:
 

1. Modified the prop spar mold for a 2-inch increase in diameter.

2. Completed new prop blade molds.

3. Completed new prop spar.

4. Work started on the new propeller skins.

ROTOR, PROP AND WING TESTING:

Testing of the new larger diameter propeller will begin upon completion of the propeller fabrication. Work is in progress to complete the test stand to test both the propeller and rotor. The propeller will be tested first.

The damaged right wing has been repaired and includes a new spar. Proof load tests have yet to be performed.

LANDING GEAR:

A modification to the front gear is nearly complete which allows it to load up more quickly and reduce travel and aircraft pitch change during a hard landing. The wheel-well has yet to be modified to accommodate this second front gear extension.

MISCELLANEOUS:

The vertical stabilizer and horizontal stabilator which were destroyed in the accident have been rebuilt. A new larger rudder design was incorporated. In addition the horizontal stabilator has been extended 2-1/2 ft outside each vertical stabilizer. This increase in area allows 100 lbs of nose ballast to be removed that had been needed for proper CG location with both a pilot and copilot onboard or allows the aircraft to be flown with 1 person onboard without additional nose ballast.

WORK YET TO BE COMPLETED

The following is a list of the major work items yet to be completed.
 

1. Finish new rotor blade molds.

2. Finish new rotor blade.

3. Finish new prop.

4. Fabrication nearly complete on new rotor hub, spindle, U-joint halve, rotor drive shaft, spindle housing and all other related parts.

5. Test new prop and rotor on test stand in test pit.

6. Perform proof test on repaired wing and rotor head assembly to 4 G's.

7. Finish cockpit voice audio alarm system and software.

8. Finish installation of second cyclic/throttle control for copilot.

9. Determine location for both low and high pressure turbochargers with coolers and plumbing.

10. Finish removing bottom air scoop and reroute cooling air from above through engine compartment before going through radiator and oil/turbo coolers.