PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF HEALTH AND USAGE MONITORING (HUMS) TO HELICOPTER ROTOR, ENGINE, AND DRIVE SYSTEMS

Health and Usage Monitoring (HUMS) is a relatively new and fast-developing technology offering operators the potential benefits of enhanced safety, reduced maintenance costs, and increased availability. HUMS technology provides enhanced monitoring of helicopter rotors, engines, drive train, and life-limited structural components. Critical technology areas include: rotor systems diagnostics, structural component usage and life monitoring, and gearbox and bearing vibration diagnostics. Systems with demonstrated technical success, such as those being introduced in the North Sea, are being investigated to reduce development costs and technical risks. For future widespread application of HUMS, the systems need to be practical and cost effective. This involves (1) tailoring the system to provide the required monitoring capability for each specific helicopter type with a minimum of sensors and processing; (2) integrating HUMS with existing systems and technologies such as the Flight Data Recording (FDR) and Rotor track and Balance Systems; and (3) in addition to addressing safety, explore opportunities for reducing maintenance costs and provide a payback to the operator, such as onboard rotor track and balance and component usage monitoring. This paper summarizes Bell’s technology development activities for HUMS, how this technology is being applied to the Bell Model 412 medium helicopter, and the application of HUMS for maintenance credits in the future.