Integrated Multivariate Health Monitoring System for Helicopters Main Rotor Drives: Development and Validation with In-Service Data

The implementation into service of accelerometric health monitoring systems of mechanical power drives on helicopters has shown that the generation of false failure alarms is a critical issue. The paper presents a combined application of several multivariate statistical techniques and shows how a monitoring method which integrates these tools can be successfully exploited in order to improve the reliability of the diagnostic systems. The first phase of the research activity was addressed to exploring the potential advantages of using multivariate classification/discrimination/anomaly detection methods on real world accelerometric condition monitoring data. The second phase consisted of an implementation into actual service of an innovative integrated multivariate health monitoring system.