http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/h-46-upgrades.htm
“The current H-46 Engine Condition Control System (ECCS) has several failure modes, which cause engines to shut down in flight; this presents a significant safety hazard to the fleet. Three bulletins have been issued by NAVAIR to inspect for system deficiencies. A formal system safety analysis utilizing historical failure data defines this as a Category One hazard and predicts six to seven failures per year. In the three and a half years before this upgrade was initiated there were 35 hazard reports (HAZREPs) issued documenting this failure mode, and it is estimated that 20 more occurred that were not reported through the HAZREP system. The aircraft has a limited single engine-operating envelope and is vulnerable to engine failure while flying and hovering over water.
There have been five aircraft lost at sea in which pilots reported engine failure as the cause of the mishap. The aircraft were not recovered and therefore, the specific engine failure mode could not be determined, but it is likely that ECCS caused some of the engine failures and ultimately led to the loss of aircraft.”
Out of how many flight hours?
The aircraft has a limited single engine-operating envelope and is vulnerable to engine failure while flying and hovering over water.
Doesn't sound like the Marine 46's outside of the SAR birds, as without Doppler, precision hovering overwater is a non-starter. The engine failures in this regime could easily have been from salt encrustation. A common hazard to sea going helos especially when the fresh water capability of the shipboard capable ships preclude washing.
With the expanded fuel capacity, SE performance is always going to be an issue.
an emergency helicopter flotation system.
I'm guessing this mod has been a failure as well.
This modification was installed on 65 H-46D aircraft (all active)
Navy and SAR birds.
The 46 fleet has degraded from 7 years of war in a lousy environment. 55 total HAZREPs in 31/2 years is nothing considering the hours flown and the environmental conditions.