July 6 update, engine problems

After 38 years, Seawolf 324 flies again. We did hover a little two years ago, but here is the helicopter in full flight, at altitude and up to 90 knots doing blade track and balance.

As we counted down the remaining days to departure for French Valley, CA (Wings & Rotors) the weather did not cooperate. Here is a photo of the TWO bladed Seawolf 324 sitting in the rain waiting on the crew to return from lunch.

We worked late to make adjustments and made numerous short test flights and ground runs to check everything out. This photo was taken about 7:00 pm with 12 people still working to make the trip to the USS Midway happen.

Everything was looking good for departure the next day, Thursday, July 1st. We made one more trim tab adjustment, and needed one more short test flight to check the RPM warning system. During that flight we had a problem! The engine compressor stalled, so we landed in a big open field about three miles from the shop. Several mechanics and our engine expert came out to check everything and make some adjustments.

We did several ground runs at full power, and it looked good for flying the helicopter back to the shop. But as I hovered it did the compressor stall again. This short video will show what happened. Watch the tail pipe very close during the last few seconds of the video.

So we left the helicopter sitting right there until the crew came back with a lift truck and flat bed trailer to haul it back to the shop.

The bad engine has been removed and a different T53-L-13B is being installed for the trip to Oshkosh on July 23rd.

Sorry Seawolves, we didn't make it over to the USS Midway. But we are very glad this was a minor problem that occured close to home and not half way across the desert. Nobody was hurt, no damage and the flight testing of Seawolf 324 will continue in a few days.

The following was added on the Seawolf Forum by Bill Rutledge on 7/7/10:

Brother Larry Looks like a Malfuntion on the A/B .I forgot to tell you About not Needing An AFTERBURNER installed for a CatShot off the Midway. You set Her Back Down OH so Gently again, Great Job.