Latin American Military - Argentina - Prefectura Naval Argentina (PNA) - Schweizer 300

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Revised: June 20, 2010
Copyright © 1997-2010 by Jean Charles Barroux - jbarroux@LAMilitary.org

Some six Schweizer 300, PA-90 to PA-95, are in use with the Prefectura Naval Argentina (PNA). The first two, PA-90 (C/N S1729) and PA-91 (C/N S1730), were delivered in 1996 and are float-equipped. The second pair, PA-92 (C/N S1778) and PA-93 (C/N S1779), was delivered in 1999. The first accident happened sometime on October 1999 when PA-91 was sent on a delivery trip from Corrientes, Provincia de Entre Ríos, to San Fernando, Provincia de Buenos Aires. The engine suffered a failure during that trip and the pilot being inexperienced at the type made a mistake on landing destroying the aircraft and surviving without injuries. The last pair, PA-94 (C/N S1816) and PA-95 (C/N S1817), was delivered in 2001.

A couple of unspecified accidents also happened to PA-90 on Dec 4, 2000, at Resistencia, Provincia de Chubut, and to PA-94 on Sept 12, 2003, at San Fernando, Provincia de Buenos Aires. Both airframes were to be repaired, and at least PA-94 has already been seen in operations. On January 19, 2010, around 13:30 local time, during an inspection flight PA-92 crashed between Ruta 202 and the San Fernando international airport. Unfortunately, the crew died on the spot. The pilot was the Subprefecto Carlos Sebastián Curcio, the commanding officer of the Escuadrilla de Alas Rotativas (EAR) and the other crew was the Maintenance Chief, Prefecto Marcelo Guillermo Dreher. This was a blow to the Prefectura since both officers were quite respected inside the force. The aircraft was written-off having only flown some 2600 hours. The results of the accident investigation have not yet been published.

The Schweizer 300 are used for basic rotary-wing pilot training by the Centro de Extensión Profesional Aeronaútica (CEPA) based at B.A. San Fernando. The candidates spend between six to eight months flying some 50 to 70 hours in order to get their helicopter wings. After graduation they are normally sent to fly as copilots of the Eurocopter AS-365N Dauphin. The Schweizer 300 helicopters are land based and nominally belong to the Escuadrilla de Alas Rotativas (EAR). However, from time to time they can be seen on the helicopter platform or deck of one of the six Mantilla class patrol boats, but the operation in high seas with bad weather of a single engined piston training helicopter is probably too risky for this to be a standard procedure of the Prefectura. Last but not least, they are also used as general purpose patrol helicopters despite the obvious limitations of the model. One of them is based in Posadas, Provincia de Misiones, and the other in the Provincia de Corrientes.

Schweizer 300

Schweizer 300C training and light utility helicopter

Designation: Schweizer 300C
Manufacturer: Schweizer, U.S.A.
Crew: 2
Passengers: 1
Construction: ---
Engine: 1 x Textron Lycoming HIO-360-D1A
Engine Type: Fuel injected flat four derated piston
Engine Thrust: 140 kW (190 hp)
Rotors: 3 bladed main rotor and 2 bladed tail rotor
Main Rotor Diameter: 8.18 m
Main Rotor Disk Area: 52.5 m2
Fuselage Length: 6.80 m
Overall Length: 9.40 m
Height: 2.66 m
Empty Weight: 474 kg
Max. Weight MTOW: 930 kg 
Max. Weight with Sling: 975 kg
Max. Speed: --- km/h
Max. Speed at Sea Level: 168 km/h
Max. Cruising Speed: 153 km/h
Normal Cruising Speed: 124 km/h
Initial Rate of Climb: 750 ft./min
Ceiling: 10,200 ft.
Howering Ceiling: 5,900 ft.
Fuel Capacity: --- lts
Range on Internal Fuel: 415 km
Range with Max. Fuel: 415 km
Range with Max. Payload: 360 km
Combat Radius: --- km ()
Endurance: 3.4 Hrs
Useful Load: --- kg
Radar: None.
EW: None.
Avionics: Garmin GPS 430 NAV/COM, IFR
Weapons: None.
Format: 1.0
Notes: Can lift 475 kg in an external sling load. They are float-equipped.

S/N       C/N        Unit          Built       Bought      Disposition         Notes
PA-90     S1729      EscAlasRotati --/---/---- --/---/1996 wfu  4/Dic/2000     Crashed Resistencia, Provincia de Chubut, to be repaired
PA-91     S1730      EscAlasRotati --/---/---- --/---/1996 w/o --/Oct/1999     Crashed Provincia de Entre Ríos
PA-92     S1778      EscAlasRotati --/---/---- --/---/1999 w/o 19/Jan/2010     Ex-N2049S, crashed 19/Jan/2010 San Fernando, Provincia de Buenos Aires, 2 killed
PA-93     S1779      EscAlasRotati --/---/---- --/---/1999 --                  Ex-N2049D, l/n Aug/2008
PA-94     S1816      EscAlasRotati --/---/---- --/---/2001 --                  Crashed 12/Sep/2003 San Fernando, Provincia de Buenos Aires, repaired, l/n Mar/2004
PA-95     S1817      EscAlasRotati --/---/---- --/---/2001 --                  l/n 20/Jun/2009

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