| The UH-1 Fin Spar Repair Kit, offered by Global Helicopter
Technology, Incorporated (GHTI) has recently received an
Airworthiness Release (AWR) from the US Army Aviation and Missile
Command. GHTI's Fin Spar Repair Kit provides an economical solution
to the problem of fin spar cracking on the Bell Helicopter Textron
UH-1 series helicopter and eliminates the need for x-ray, hammer
tapping, or monthly inspections required by Technical Bulletin (TB)
1-1520-210-20-47 or TB 1-1520-210-30-01. The primary advantage of GHTI's Fin Spar Repair Kit is that it is designed to be installed without the use of a tailboom fixture, nor is removal of the tailboom required. The GHTI kit includes a special disposable template to transfer the existing hole pattern into the new GHTI spar assembly. An experienced sheet metal technician can perform the installation, usually in 80 hours or less using typical shop tools. The GHTI Fin Spar Kit is a robust design, utilizing high strength solid spar caps in lieu of the existing sheet metal spar. The spar caps run the full length of the spar assembly and are equal size on the left and right side. This feature increases the bending strength of the GHTI spar by 60% vs. the original spar in the area of the 42-degree gearbox. The center web, located between the two spar caps, is thicker and stronger when compared to the existing web. The GHTI fin spar assembly also eliminates the discontinuities present in the existing spar that have led to cracking at the top of the vertical fin adjacent to the 90 degree gearbox. GHTI's Fin Spar Repair Kit has been approved by the FAA for all UH-1 models under several Supplemental Type Certificates: SR09257RC, SR09313RC, SR09316RC, and SR09318RC. At present, operators worldwide have installed over 150 GHTI Fin Spar Repair Kits and feedback from these customers has been overwhelmingly positive. The repair kits include all necessary drill bits and reamers as well as extra fasteners to accommodate variations among aircraft. The Installation Instructions include step-by-step guidance, with color photographs used to show the various stages of installation. Aircraft downtime reported by those who have installed the GHTI Fin Spar Kit averages 3 to 4 days. GHTI's Fin Spar Repair Kits are available for prompt delivery for installation on all models of the UH-1. Kits can be shipped soon after receipt of order. U.S. Government UH-1 operators are encouraged to contact GHTI directly for special pricing and procurement assistance. Thank you for your interest in the Global Helicopter Technology Fin Spar Repair Kit for the UH-1. Other projects currently under development at GHTI include the PT6 powered UH-1H. The aircraft has begun ground testing and will soon enter the flight-testing phase. GHTI will also begin certification testing of our new Tail Rotor Enhancement Kit (TREK). This kit consists of our Density Altitude Compensator in conjunction with a Tractor Tail Rotor. The advantage of the GHTI TREK is that it does not require a tailboom or drivetrain upgrade and offers greatly improved high altitude operations.
|