MULTI-PURPOSE FLIGHT DATA RECORDER (MPFDR)
The Multi-Purpose Flight Data Recorder (MPFDR) system is composed by:
• One Multi-Purpose Flight Data Recorder Unit
• One Control Unit
• One Cockpit Area Microphone
• One Accelerometer
The MPFDR system operates as a Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit
Voice Recorder (CVR); it automatically records selected aircraft parameters
and 4 audio sources into a crashworthy, fireproof, deep-waterproof, solid
state memory module.
The MPFDR system operating power is fed by the ESS 1 bus via the FDR
circuit breaker.
The MPFDR system is also supplied by the BATT Bus, via the FDR/CVR
circuit breaker located in the nose compartment, for shutdown operation.
MULTI-PURPOSE FLIGHT DATA RECORDER UNIT
The MPFDR Unit (or FDR/CVR) is a solid state airborne recorder and
consists of a solid state memory module and an electronic interface. The
solid state memory module is protected for crash survivability and is able to
store a minimum of 25 hours of aircraft data (FDR) and 120 minutes of 4-
channel audio (CVR).
When the memory is full, the FDR/CVR keeps recording replacing the oldest
data with the newest ones.
The FDR/CVR Unit is installed in the tailboom forward area.
An Underwater Locator Beacon (ULB) is fitted to the Crash Survivable
Memory Module as an aid to locate the module in the event of an accident
over water.
The ULB is triggered by an internal water sensor and emits 37.5 kHz
frequency; it is provided with an autonomous battery that permits 30 days of
operation minimum, from sea level down to 20,000 ft of depth.
CONTROL UNIT
The Control Unit (also defined as Cockpit Control Unit) permits the ground
crew to test the system and erase the recorded audio.
The Control Unit is installed in the LH rear avionic bay and contains the
Cockpit Area Microphone Pre-amplifier, a Headphone jack socket, pushbuttons
and indicators for the self-test and voice erase facilities of the FDR/
CVR.
Aside the Control Unit, a connector permits downloading of all recorded
aircraft data and audio parameters to a suitably equipped laptop computer
when the helicopter is on the ground and both engines are off.
TRI-AXIAL ACCELEROMETER
The Tri-Axial Accelerometer senses accelerations along the three major
helicopter axes (lateral, longitudinal and vertical) and provides them to MAU
1.
MAU 1 transfers the Tri-Axial Accelerometer data along with other aircraft
data to the FDR/CVR Unit via a digital bus, for recording.