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Bell 407 Autos / Fort Worth





Bell 407 Autos / Fort Worth  

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Author: OCONUS IP   Date: 3/4/2022 11:39:30 AM  +3/-1   Show Orig. Msg (this window) Or  In New Window

All true! 


I'd also mention the fact that in a "training auto" the engine isn't gone, it's simply at idle.  The means the engine oil pressure remains good, and the generator never kicks offline.  In an actual "engine out auto," those two lights illuminate on the CWAP.  Pilots are very "visual" people.  When they have never seen those lights in training, some have a tendency to spend precious time looking at, and even trying to deal with, those lights.  When training rated pilots in a simulator, I have actually had some try to reset the generator during the autorotation!  Too little time my friend!!!  You'll be on the ground soon enough, and the battery will last long enough for you to make a few calls!


The last thing to mention is that in a training auto the engine is at idle and, thus, is providing a little bit of power, albeit a very small amount, to the rotors and keeping them spinning a little at the very end of the landing.  In a real auto, that just doesn't happen!  It may not seem very important, but it does make some difference at touchdown.  Be ready to use ALL the collective you have available, not just what you're accustomed to using!


"The landing," ah, the landing!  You can do everything right, but screwup that last 4 or 5 feet and all is for naught!  I once served with a UH-1 pilot who had an engine fail at about 8K feet.  Saw a nice field to land in and circled it all the way done.  Screwed up the last 5 feet and severely damaged the aircraft.  When we talked about it later he said he didn't use enough cushioning pitch.  That he was used to the amount of collective he had done during training autos and that's what he did.  The problem is it was not enough, so he feel like a rock the last 4 or 5 feet, rocked forward on landings, then hit hard coming back down, spread the skids - primarily the aft crosstube - and almost broke the tailboom off at the fuselage.  Hey, at least they all lived.  A fair amount of folks don't! 


 

 
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Bell 407 Autos / Fort Worth +0/-4 Twist Grip 3/4/2022 4:19:04 AM