Section 15

Emergency Flotation Equipment

Section 15 Emergency Flotation Equipment

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Emergency Flotation Equipment

General

The AS332L is fitted with Emergency Flotation Gear, which provides for additional buoyancy in the event
of an emergency landing on water. Some of the lower aircraft compartments in the structure are sealed
to provide initial buoyancy. The system can be deployed both manually and automatically.

Description

The installation consists of three separate inflatable elements located one on each sponson and one
under the nose section.

Each element consists of a 5-chamber float made of polyurethane coated polyamide fabric housed in a
canvas bag secured by a lacing. Each of the five chambers is sealed with a non-return/supply valve,
which prevents the float from deflating should one segment be ruptured. Each float is attached by a metal
cradle to the airframe.

Inflation is by means of 4 helium charged wire wound fibreglass bottles located one in each sponson and
two in the nose. Pressure gauges fitted to each bottle can be checked through perspex panels on
sponsons and under cockpit. They should be inspected before each flight. Pressure is approximately 230
bar in nose cylinder and 207 bar in each side cylinders.

When fired, inflation takes less than 2½ seconds at sea level.

The installation is supplied with 28V DC from the Primary and Secondary bus bars. Each circuit is alone
capable of firing the floats and protection circuit breakers are fitted in the cabin aft of the starboard plug
door.

With the system armed, a current flows through the connectors on each firing head of the bottles.
Pressing one of the 3 firing controls sends a current through resistors on foil discs in each head. The
discs melt and discharge the Helium into the floats. The firing relay is self-holding once energised so the
button can be released.

Automatic Float Deployment System (AFDS)

This is used to inflate the Flotation Gear should the pilot be unable to.

Operation

The system consists of 4 corner mounted float switches on the underside of the aircraft, a control panel,
2 circuit breakers and a warning caption on the CWP.

The AFDS uses float switches with ‘normally closed’ contacts to activate the flotation system. In the
event of a ditching, and providing that the emergency flotation system is ARMED, the opening of the
contacts in at least 2 of the float switches in any configuration (normal float action or mechanical
damage) will initiate automatic inflation.

In the event of a heavy impact on the water, mechanical damage to the wiring at the float switch will
break the circuit and the system will ‘see’ that the float switch has operated.

The system is automatically armed by the action of arming the manual inflation system. No further action
is required by the crew to initiate the AFDS.

System Failure

Should a failure of the AFDS system be detected, an AFDS caption will illuminate on the CWP and an
amber caution light will illuminate on the control panel. The System should be set to isolate as there is a
risk that the floats will be inflated when they are selected to ‘arm’.

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System Testing

To test the AFDS, the ‘test’ button should be held forward against a spring. The amber caution light
should illuminate first followed by the green ‘pass’ light if the system is serviceable.

If the green ‘pass’ light does not illuminate the AFDS switch should be set to ISOLATE.

Controls and Monitoring

AFDS ISOLATE
4
5 6

TEST PASS CAUTION

DEPRESS TO INFLATE
ON 2
1 2
1
OFF
3
EMERG FLOTATION GEAR

Figure 1 – Flotation Controls

There are two control panels fitted on the centre console together with two inflation switches (one on
each pilots collective) as shown above. The panels consist of the following -

1. An ON-OFF arming switch

2. A key type firing control, consisting of a push button protected by a breakable mica cover covering 2
warning lights. The amber lights illuminate when the system is armed to show the circuit is complete.

3. Two push buttons located on stalks on pilot and co-pilots collective levers. These are fed in parallel
with the key type control so that inflation can be achieved with any of the 3 controls.

4. AFDS test switch.

5. AFDS Annunciator lights.

6. AFDS Isolate switch.

The electrical supply should be checked before flight by switching ‘ON’ and checking that both lights
illuminate and then switch ‘OFF’.

Note - If using battery power only, the No.1 light will not illuminate.

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 Figure 2 – Aircraft Afloat

As can be seen from the above diagram the water line is approximately at the cabin door and in a calm
sea no water should enter.

When the passengers have been evacuated, the aircraft may be towed at 4 knots should you feel like
living dangerously.

Limitations

Speed

System off No restriction

System armed or inflated 135 kts powered flight
110 kts autorotation

Altitude

Arming and inflating 6500 ft

Take off is prohibited after landing on water

Emergency Procedures

Recommendations

a) Arm system when flying below 400 ft over water (Speed reduced 135 kts)
b) When making emergency landing on water inflate at speed lower than 80 kts and a maximum height
of 400 ft. Try to alight vertically.
c) In light wind alight parallel to swell.
d) In strong winds alight at a compromise between wind and swell.
e) Jettison doors when aircraft is afloat.

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 Nose Bottles Sponson Bottles
230 bar at 15°C 207 bar at 15°C

Each Float Compartment contains -

Supply Coupling - Quick-disconnect coupling with check valve – connected to distribution tube

Inflation & Deflation Coupling - Used to inflate and deflate for test purposes

Pressure Relief Valve at 345 bar - Prevents excessive inflation if accidentally inflated at altitude

Figure 3 – Emergency Flotation Gear

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 INTENTIONALLY BLANK

Section 15 Emergency Flotation Equipment

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