AS 350 B3

Initial Pilot Ground School

Chapter 3
Main Rotor Drive System
3.1
3.1 - FUNCTIONS OF MAIN ROTOR DRIVE SYSTEM

3.2
3.2 - MAIN GEARBOX SUSPENSION
RPMs:
Main Rotor RPM: 393 RPM
Engine RPM: 6125 RPM

3.2
3.2 - MAIN GEARBOX SUSPENSION (Cont’d)

3.3
 Tooling marks are not permitted on suspension bars.

MGB is suspended
like a pendulum and
oscillates about the
intersection of the 4 4 Suspension
suspension bars. bars support
the aircraft.

Suspension bars are

mounted to the MGB deck.

3.3
 Suspension Bars
(top view)

Forward

Check all attachment

points (top and bottom)
for safety pins

Tooling marks are not permitted on suspension bars. 3.3

Main Gear Box Flexible Suspension Assembly
Cylindrical Bi-directional- both Flexible
laminated longitudinal and suspension
pads lateral axis absorbs major
part of vibration

Thinner pads
absorb vibrations
during Autorotation
Thicker pads
Flexible in Shear. Stiff in compression
absorb torque
3.3
Newest Style “Dogbone” Cross Member
3.3
3.3 - ENGINE / MGB COUPLING

Articulated Coupling
3.5
( 1 ) DRIVE SHAFT FLEXIBLE COUPLINGS

3.5
3.3.1. ENGINE / MGB FLEX ENGINE
COUPLING COMPONENTS Coupling

Slight
misalignment
between the
FLEX
engine power Coupling

output and the

MGB power
input is MGB
compensated
for by the
gimbal ring.

3.6
3.4 - MAIN GEARBOX (MGB)
3.4.1. MGB DRIVE TRAIN

3.7
3.4.2. MGB MODULES

MODULE 3

3.7
3.4.3. MGB COMPONENTS

Epicyclic
Reduction Gear
Oil Press.
Switch <1 bar Filter 25 m
Sun Gear
MGB
P

Bevel
Rotor Reduction
Brake Gear

3.8
3.4.4 MGB LUBRICATION SYSTEM
MineralMineral Oil
Oil - MIL-L-6086C
MGB
P

MGB
CHIP

C
O 1.7 US Gal.
O MGB Filter is
L 25 micron (no indicator)
I
Fan ON > 77 C
N 6.5 bar
Engine Oil Temp Relief Valve
G

A
I MGB
R TEMP
Oil Pump

3.9
3.4.5. MGB LUBRICATION SYSTEM COMPONENTS

“Spin-On” Oil
25Filter
MICRONS
(no indicator)
25 MICRONS
(no bypass indicator)

Engine MGB
Cooler Cooler

3.10
3.4.5. MGB LUBRICATION SYSTEM COMPONENTS

Chip Detector Temperature

Probe

Failure Warning Panel

3.10
 MGB
P

Main Gearbox
Main Gearbox oil
oil minimum
minimum pressure
pressure

Pilot’s action: Reduce Power

Land As Soon As Possible.
The M.G.B. has successfully passed a bench test consisting in
running the gearbox for 45 minutes with zero oil pressure at the
power corresponding to minimum power in level flight (at 55 kt)

Flight Manual - Emergency Procedures Section

7.13
3.10
 MGB
TEMP

Main Gearbox
Main Gearbox oil
oil maximum
maximum temperature
temperature

Pilot’s action: Test the warning caution advisory panel to check the
M.G.B. Pressure caption light.

If the light does not illuminate, proceed as for M.G.B. oil pressure at zero.

If the light illuminates, land and check the M.G.B. oil level.

If the oil level is normal, fly to the nearest base.

Flight Manual - Emergency Procedures Section
7.13
 MGB
CHIP

Metal particles
Metal particles detected
detected in
in M.G.B.
M.G.B.

Pilot’s action: Reduce engine power.

• Monitor MGB Pressure & MGB Temperature lights.

• Should either or both lights illuminate, refer to

illumination of relevant light(s), [ in the Flight Manual ].

Flight Manual - Emergency Procedures Section

3.10
3.5 - ROTOR BRAKE

3.11
3.5.3. ROTOR BRAKE
COMPONENTS AND
CHARACTERISTICS

Normal braking speed: 140

rpm or less
Maximum braking speed
(high winds): 170 rpm
Compulsory time between
two brake applications:
5 min.

Rotor Brake ON

Rotor Brake OFF

3.12
3.11
Overhead Controls (as of mid-year 2000)

Emergency
Fuel Shutoff
Handle

Rotor
Brake
Handle

3.12
 Review
Questions
 24. What two components attach the
main rotor / main gearbox assembly to
the airframe?
A. Main frame and subordinate attaching points.
B. Suspension
Suspensionbars,bars,which
which transmit
transmit lifting
lifting forces
forces to the airframe,
to the airframe, and the diagonal
and the diagonal suspension bar
suspension bar (“dogbone”),
(“dogbone”), which which absorbs
absorbs longitudinal and
longitudinal and lateral vibrations.
lateral vibrations.
C. “Angle iron” mounts and “Anti-Vib” mounts.

D. Aris Mounts and Toggle Bolts.

25. The “dogbone” is attached to the
airframe with laminated pads. What are
these laminated pads considered to be in
shear and compression?
A. “Sloppy in shear and loose in compression”.
B. “Fast in shear and easy in compression”.

C. “Flexible
“Flexible ininshear
shearand
andrigid
rigid
in compression”.
in
compression”.
D. “Rigid in shear and flexible in compression”.
 26. What are the two purposes of the
engine / MGB coupling tube?
A. To provide a guard for the short shaft and
to eliminate stress on the Thomas
coupling.
B. To maintain the distance to the swashplate
and to align the inverse coupling shaft.
C. To catch excess ‘slung’ grease and to
relieve stress on the drive shaft.
D. To maintain
maintaindistance
distancebetween
between thethe
engine
engine
and the
and the MGB
MGBandandtotorelieve
relievestress
stress onon
thethe
drive shaft.
drive shaft.
 27. The engine to MGB drive shaft is
attached on both ends with what?
A. Flex-couplings
Flex-couplings(Thomas
(Thomas couplings)
couplings)
B. Castellated nuts.
C. “Swankinstein” floating devices.
D. Flexing Elastomer couplings.
28. The MGB is comprised of how
many modules and how many stages
of reduction are in the MGB?
A. Two; three.
B. Four; four.

C. Three; four.

D. Three;
Three; two.
two.
 29. What indicating / monitoring devices
are connected to the Main Gear Box?

A. MGB pressure gauge, MGB temperature

gauge, and MGB Filter warning light.
B. MGB
MGB P P warning
warninglight,
light,MGB
MGB TT warning
warninglight,
and CHIP
light, and MGB
CHIP warning
MGB warning
light. light.
C. MGB P warning light, MGB T warning light,
and CHIP XMSN warning light.
D. MGB pressure gauge, MGB temperature
gauge, and MGB Filter “pop-out” clogging
indicator.
30. Does the MGB Oil Filter have a bypass
provision, and does it have a bypass /
clogging “pop-out” indicator button?

A. No; No.
B. No; Yes.

C. Yes; Yes, as an option.

D. Yes;
Yes; No.
No.
31. The MGB Oil Pressure light illuminates
below what pressure, and the MGB Oil
Temperature light illuminates above what
temperature?

A. 10 bars; 115 C 0

B. 1 bar;
bar; 115
115 CC
00

C. 10 bars; 1150 F
D. 1 bar; 1150 F
32. Is the rotor brake hydraulically activated?

A. Yes, from the beginning.

B. No.
No.
C. Yes, but only as an option.
D. Yes, on all AS350’s manufactured after
March 1999.
 33. What are the correct NR speeds and
time between brake applications for the
rotor brake?
A. 120 NR normal; 150 NR high winds; 5 min.

B. 180 NR normal; 200 NR high winds; 10 min.

C. 140 NR normal;
normal; 170 NR high
highwinds;
winds;55min.
min.

D. 140 NR normal; 170 NR high winds; 10 min.

 End of Chapter 3
Main Rotor Drive System