Ka-226 Multipurpose helicopter

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A 8-seat multipurpose coaxial helicopter powered by two Allison 250-C20V 420-hp gas turbine engines - a top-to-bottom upgrade of the Ka-26 helicopter. The Ka-226's prototype maiden flight was made on 3 September, 1997. 

The helicopter has been productionised at the Strela plant (Orenburg) in cooperation with Kumertau Aircraft Production Association. The first series-produced helicopter was built in late 2000. In 2001, the Russian Ministry for Emergencies is to receive the first two of 5 ordered Ka-226 helicopters (in Ka-226A version). An order from Moscow city administration and Gazprom JSC are also expected. Ka-226 is to be certified in 2002.

Ka-226 MEDEVAC.

At the beginning of the 2000s the multi­purpose Ka-226 helicopter should become the main working horse of the Ministry of emergencies aircraft fleet. The designing of this machine has began at the Kamov firm in 1990. It was derived from the Ka-26 and Ka-126 helicopters. 

The new helicopter was intended for cargo transportation (including slung under the fuselage), passengers trans­portation, search and rescue works, patrolling, fire fighting, air reconnaissance, medical, etc. In contrary to its one-engine predecessors the helicopter should be used for solution of the problems, where the availability of two engines as additional warranty of the flight safety is required. Such works include the flights above a water surface and in city areas, rescue works etc. In the case of one engine failure at Ka-226 the flight with climbing should be possible. 

The Draft project and mock-up of the new helicopter were verified in 1996, and in 1997 the designing of the first experimental protopype was started. For time and costs reduction the development works of the helicopter were divid­ed into two stages: first - the flight protopypes manufacturing with upgrading of the series Ka-126 for Allison 250-C20B engines installation. And the standard systems and equipment which was not connected with the power plant, should not upgrade. At the second stage, the series helicopters manufacturing, fully complying with AP-29 and FAR-29 should be carried out. More

powerful Allison 250-C20R/2 (SR) engines, new lifting system, autopilot and other equipment should be installed on the helicopter. The main customer of the Ka-226 helicopter was the Ministry of emergencies of Russia (rescue mod­ification was designated as Ka-226A ). Besides it was possible to use the helicopter in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (in particular as combat-trainer version). Interest in the new heli­copter was also expressed by the Federal Boundary Service of Russia, the State Customs Committee, the Government of Moscow, the Gazprom and other potential customers. 

The Ka-226A made its first flight in September 4, 1997. The series manufacturing of the heli­copter began in 1999 at the «Strela» plant (Orenburg), earlier involved in the rockets output, and also in Kumertau. The first five helicopters in emergency - rescue version will be delivered to the Ministry of emergencies of Russia in 2000. The helicopter is supposed to be used as the «air rescue», mainly in large cities. Cost of one Ka-226A helicopter is estimated at $1.5 mln. In the opinion Sergey Mikheev, the general design­er of «Kamov» firm, the 1000-1500 of Ka-226 helicopters are required only for Russia by 2010.

CONSTRUCTION FEATURES. The heli­copter Ka-226 is the coaxial scheme with two 3-blade rotors. The airframe is made mostly of alu­minium alloys with a use of composite honey­comb panels. Two tail beams are fastened to the central load-carrying fuselage compartment. The beams are similar with the Ka-26 ones. The lifting system includes two coaxial 3-blade air screw. The blades of screws with two-contour spar and electro thermal anti-ice system are completely made of polymer composite materials. 

Feature of the helicopter configuration is the removable cockpit modules (completely made of polymer composites), providing fast re-equipment of the helicopter, if it is required for particular tasks, "flie replacement of modules is carried out in air field conditions and takes no more than 20-30 min, the balancing of the helicopter is not required. The passenger module is designed for carrying six passengers with a high level of comfort or eight with less comfort. At the transport module it can be carry up to 1300 kg of cargo on the external sus­pension. 

Extreme - rescue module is equipped with the floodlight and sound station, and medivac - two-tiered stretcher fasteners, seats for accom­panying medical personnel and special medical equipment. TTiere is also a «crane» version with a system of the external suspension of the cargoes permitting to transport large-sized cargoes by air and to carry out installation works. Comparing with the Ka-26 and Ka-126 helicopters the removable modules used on the Ka-226 have increased dimentions and more perfect design. 

Die landing gear - four-support, unfolded. All supports are equipped by the oil-pneumatic amortization. The rear support wheels have the brake with pneumatic drive. The crew cabin is supplied with a system of cooling and heating which ensures comfortable work conditions. Commonly a crew of the helicopter is one person, however the second seat for co-pilot is also pro­vided. Small dimensions allow Ka-226 to be transported to long distances by automobile and railroad, and also onboard the military transport aircraft of the 11-76 type. Specified helicopter service life is 18000 hours. 

POWER PLANT is placed above the central load-bearing compartment. At the first experi­mental helicopter, two Allison 250-C20B with 450 h.p. turbo shaft engines were installed. Later at series helicopters the Allison 250-C20R/2 (SR) engines with the same power will be installed. The five-stage BR-126 gearbox is installed before the engines. The internal fuel tanks capacity is 7701. (in the fuselage there is four soft fuel tanks). On each side of fuselage two metal tanks with 1601 capacity can be suspended.

ONBOARD SYSTEMS and EQUIPMENT. The helicopter is equipped with the flight-naviga­tion and communication avionics of the AlliedSignal compatible both with Russian and foreign air field radio navigation complexes. The laser LCR-92 AHRS (attitude and heading refer­ence system), automatic compass, barometric altimeter, low attitude radio altimeter are provid­ed. The piloting is carried out with SEI-226 sys­tem of electronic indication, stand-by flight indi­cators, speedometer and variometer. The heli­copter is one-crewed. It may be piloted in hard weather conditions. The BREO structure includes the KLN90B satellite navigation system receiver. The version with completely Russian-made avion­ics, intended for use in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation is also possible. 

Emergency - rescue version of the heli­copter, upgraded under the Ministry of emer­gencies requirements, includes the electro winch with carrying capacity of 300 kg, located on the right side, container with emergency-rescue equipment, loud-speaker unit and searchlight. In the cargo cabin, nine rescues can be transported. Ka-226 medivac version is equipped by the artificial lungs ventilation device, defibrillator, cardiograph, pacemaker, portable screen monitor, pulse x-meter and other special equipment. 

The helicopter can take aboard two stretchered injured, and also two accompanying medics. For special tasks the helicopter can be also equipped with gyrostabilized thermal vision, onboard radar and other systems.

Technical specifications

Photos Ka-226