Lynx One Engine Inoperative (OEI) testing during hot weather SHOL or “What do we do when we lose an engine on a hot sunny day with no wind?”

Claus Dalum, Experimental Test Pilot, Tactical Air Command Denmark (TACDEN), Denmark
Craig Mathews, Prism Defence, Australia

Abstract

Limited single engine performance on the Lynx Mk90B during hot weather operations was a concern for the Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF). Specific One Engine Inoperative (OEI) testing was therefore included as part of a hot weather ship-helicopter operating limitations (SHOL) trial. The aim was, via flight test, to develop a recommended method of recovering the aircraft to the ship in the safest way using the available engine power in case of a single engine failure.

The test results gave the test team good confidence in the recommended procedure to be used in case of an OEI approach and recovery to the ship during hot weather conditions. A minimum decision height over the sea for aborting the approach was also determined.

The test team was a combined team of a contractor Test Pilot (TP) and Flight Test Engineer (FTE), a military TP and an operational pilot. The combined team proved to be instrumental in achieving an effective and timely outcome. The recommendations were incorporated into the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and were ready for immediate use as the ship was on its way on operational deployment.