jane's defence weekly의 최신 기사인데 작년 레바논전쟁 중 7월 24일, 비행 시간이 겨우 300시간인 쌩쌩한 ah-64d 아파치 롱보우 1대가 작전하다가 고도 8,000 피트에서 갑자기 메인 로터가 떨어져 나가 추락했고, 승무원 2명이 죽었습니다.

사고가 터지자 이스라엘공군은 모든 ah-64d를 비행 금지시켰고, 보잉과 함께 왜 이런 사고가 터졌는지 조사를 했습니다. 그 결과, 사고의 원인은 이스라엘공군만 쓰는 비행 영역 (flight envelope) 때문인 것으로 이스라엘공군과 보잉의 의견이 모아졌고, 이스라엘공군 추가 6대 도입에 대한 결정을 보류하고 있습니다.

고도 8,000 피트에서 어떻게 날았길래 메인 로터가 떨어져 나갔을까요?

performance dispute puts israeli apache buy on hold
by alon ben-d*id
18 october 2007

the israel air force (iaf) is refusing to accept additional ah-64d apache longbow attack helicopters until it settles a dispute with boeing over the performance envelope of the aircraft.

one of the iaf's ah-64d apaches (dubbed seraphs in israeli service) crashed on 24 july 2006. the aircraft was on a combat mission near the lebanese border, on station at an altitude of 8,000 ft, when the main rotor detached from the fuselage. the aircraft, which had logged only 300 flight hours, crashed, killing the two crewmen.

the iaf grounded its entire longbow fleet and established a joint team with boeing to investigate the failure, which had no precedent in the apache's history.

both parties agreed that the malfunction was a result of the unique flight envelope employed by the iaf and has no bearing on apaches flown by other customers.

the iaf is planning to purchase six additional ah-64d helicopters but has deferred this decision until the conclusion of the discussions with boeing.

a boeing spokesperson said: "we are working co-operatively with the iaf to ensure that the seraph maintains its essential role in the defence and security of israel and, while those efforts are under way, it would be inappropriate for boeing to make further comment."

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