Airbus Helicopters H160 (formerly X4)

[Titus K]

Brazilian investigators detail failure that led to H160 ditching

Brazilian authorities say a rupture in the pitch change rod assembly for a main rotor blade caused an Omni Taxi Aereo Airbus H160 to ditch in the Atlantic Ocean last month.

verticalmag.com

 

[TomcatViP]

Anyone seeing those graph should be thinking at this as the Miracle on the South Atlantic... Kudo to the pilots for their choice to attempt a crash landing so far out at sea, their dexterity to execute it perfectly in such circumstances and Airbus for mastering the inflating floats system so well (picture of the recovery shows non-negligeable swell size, while the aircraft could still even be towed to the coast).

 

[yasotay]

Those are some incredible vibration levels. Aircrew no doubt just hoping to get it landed before things get worse. The old saying remans true; any landing you can walk (or paddle) away from is a good landing. Airbus seems cursed wit rotor head issues. At least when it comes to off shore industries.

 

[Titus K]

As for the Omni ditching, maintenance may be at fault, not Airbus … We have security footage of the maintenance being (badly) done —> page 22

https://dedalo.sti.fab.mil.br/file/PROFB/PROFB_Preliminary_Report_ENG_Final_version_Rev_02.pdf

If i understand this right, during maintenance on December 24th, the team failed to follow required Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) procedures while performing the swashplate bearing functional test on the H160.

The procedure required removal of the RH MGB fixed cowling and immobilization of the pitch change rods before rotating the main rotor.

However, the RH cowling remained installed and the pitch change rods were not secured. While turning the rotor clockwise, one pitch change rod became stuck on the RH cowling.

Despite this interference, the technician continued rotating the rotor for several seconds until it could no longer turn. Attempts were then made to manually free the rod, and it was eventually released by rotating the rotor counterclockwise.

This sequence created abnormal mechanical loads on the pitch control system and may have contributed to the plastic deformation later observed on the white blade upper rod end bearing.

 

[Titus K]

H160 rotor component inspections show no defects after Brazil ditching incident

Inspections of main rotor components returned to Airbus Helicopters in the wake of a 2 January ditching of an H160 medium-twin off the Brazilian coast have so far found zero defects, the airframer has revealed.

www.flightglobal.com

Inspections of main rotor components returned to Airbus Helicopters in the wake of a 2 January ditching of an H160 medium-twin off the Brazilian coast have so far found zero defects, the airframer has revealed.
...
It further reinforces the impression that CENIPA is now mainly focused on a maintenance issue in the days prior to the ditching, rather than any underlying mechanical problem with the aircraft….
...
Klein is also pleased with the operational performance of the H160: average availability of the 65-strong in-service fleet stood at over 90% last year, he notes.
Airbus Helicopters has, meanwhile, will in March extend the time before overhaul for the main gearbox from 900h to 3,000h, based on evidence gathered from the in-service fleet. US certification for the improvement will follow in September.
...
Separately, the manufacturer has increased the maximum payload for H160s fitted with inlet barrier filters – about 40% of the fleet – by 150kg (330lb), or 50kg in single-engine operation.

 

[Titus K]

Airbus 'very close' to removing post-ditching H160 EASB requirements

Airbus Helicopters says it is “very close” to being able to remove the requirement to replace H160 main rotor pitch rod ends after 165 flight hours, following ongoing discussions with authorities in Europe and Brazil.

verticalmag.com

In terms of the aircraft’s performance during the ditching itself, Klein said it was a test of the H160’s safety features – and the aircraft performed well.

“The feedback with the pilot and the crew was very good, because they opened the window, they opened rafts, and all the safety [systems] are [working],” he said. This included the aircraft’s floats, which allowed it to stay above the water during the evacuation — and to be towed behind a boat all the way back to port.

Klein also congratulated the pilots, “because the reaction was exactly the right one at the right moment,” he said, adding that it was also a validation of the H160 training program.

“During the training, we also have this kind of event, and [the aircraft] exactly reacted how we expect,” he said.

Klein also noted that the H160’s safety features — including a camera mounted on the Fenestron and various metrics recorded by its advanced avionics — have allowed the investigation to move quickly.

H160 sales reach 50 percent market share after 'turning point' in 2025

The head of the Airbus Helicopters H160 program has described 2025 as “a turning point,” with “good commercial momentum” from 30 new orders — which he said represents 50 percent of the civil market in its category.

verticalmag.com

The head of the Airbus Helicopters H160 program has described 2025 as “a turning point,” with “good commercial momentum” from 30 new orders — which he said represents 50 percent of the civil market in its category.
...
Production over the year continued to ramp up, and while the company won’t disclose exact figures, Klein said they delivered “substantially more than 24” of the new medium. The company is ultimately targeting 60 deliveries annually — 40 civil and parapublic, and 20 of the military H160M version.

 

[Titus K]

First H160M prototype passes 72 flight hours

Airbus Helicopters is “very happy” with the behavior of the first H160M Guepard prototype in flight testing, with the aircraft having now recorded more than 72 flight hours.

verticalmag.com

 

[RavenOne]

I’m at International Military Helicopter this week in London btw

View: https://youtu.be/uGG9nureo7k?si=T34I_jERais-Xx_V


Cheers

 

[yasotay]

Time permitting it would be great to read some of the interesting bits from the IMHC.

 

[Titus K]

Low-weight ballistic protection integrated into helicopter structure
Next-generation self-protection system including Counter-UAS

 

[TomcatViP]

If it's only Kevlar, readers have to understand that a sheet of Kevlar has never held any structural members together in case of a hit. It's also heavy to be made relevant as a ballistic shield.

 

[EmoBirb]

If it's only Kevlar, readers have to understand that a sheet of Kevlar has never held any structural members together in case of a hit. It's also heavy to be made relevant as a ballistic shield.

It's not about reinforcing the structure but about protecting the cabin and thus the pilot and co-pilot from potential shrapnel and possibly small caliber fire.

And especially with how common small MANPADS and drones have become, it's a reasonably investment with regards to crew safety. It's obviously highlighted as the civilian version didn't posess this kind of protection.

 

[Titus K]

EASA withdraws H160 pitch rod AD as CENIPA investigation develops - RotorHub International

www.rotorhub.com

 

[TomcatViP]

From the link above:

[EASA stated] Airbus has provided data from additional tests which shows that the fatigue strength of the pitch rod conform to the certification design assumptions. Consequently, “the specific unsafe condition addressed by this AD is no longer supported by the current evidence”

 

[Titus K]

New details on the delivery schedule of the H160M Guepard for the French Armed Forces in the updated military programming law :

All 3 prototypes (Army, Air Force, Navy) will be undergoing test campaigns by 2027.

5 H160M will be delievered to the armed forces by 2030.
80 additional H160M will be delivered by 2035, at a production rate of ~16/year for France.
The final target is still 169 units.

 

[Titus K]

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has approved a time between overhaul (TBO) extension for the main gearbox (MGB) of the Airbus Helicopters H160

The TBO for the MGB is now 3,000 flight hours — halfway towards the manufacturer’s ultimate goal of 6,000 flight hours.

In a statement announcing the extension, Airbus said it followed a rigorous technical evaluation, including three customer MGB inspections at 1,000 flight hours and successful 2,500-hour tests on the “dynamic helicopter zero” test cell and multipurpose test benches.

Airbus believes the extension will enhance the medium-lift aircraft’s competitiveness, thanks to the improvement to direct maintenance costs for operators.

The manufacturer said the process used a new testing standard involving test benches and in-service data, which will serve as a model for future aircraft programs.

Airbus hopes to achieve validation from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the second half of 2026.

Airbus Helicopters extends H160 MGB TBO

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has approved a time between overhaul extension for the main gearbox of the Airbus Helicopters H160.

verticalmag.com