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Investigations continue into helicopter part failure

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Helicopters are the aerial workhorses of outback Australia(Virginia Tapp)

There's 2,400 helicopters registered in Australia and 62 per cent are the popular Robinson workhorses of outback Australia.

But mystery still surrounds why piston engine choppers have a high rate of failure in the engine exhaust valve.

For several years the part has been found to fail at 200 hours, instead of lasting 2,000 hours.

The Australian Helicopter Industry Association formed an investigative group in mid-2018 and is looking at all options for the premature cracking.

Chief executive Paul Tyrrell said choppers operating in northern Australia seemed most susceptible to the part failure.

It could be mid-2019 before any answers are found.

Credits

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Broome, Derby, Darwin, Fitzroy Crossing, Kununurra, Halls Creek, Karratha, Rural, Air Transport Industry, Industry
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