Sobering!

[Gyronaut]

My good friend Jonathan (ZU-DIO) who I consider to be a most competent aviator, pointed me to some sobering images.
Thoughts of 'are we the most priviledged' or 'are we the most wreckless' people in the world crossed my mind.

I have many rotor-wing hours, and am close to 300 gyro hours but I still cringe at something like this...

So sad

sobering.jpg (44.42 KiB) Viewed 2380 times

Forgive me, but I think we all need to consider the consequences of what we do, check, double check and don't push the envelope of our own abilities or that of our machines.

On that bombshell, I wish to say again that Gyro's are the safest machines to fly by far (if you stick to the rules).

If this post made you think about your safety (one more time) then I have achieved my goal and hopefully we will improve the safety record of these amazing little machines.

Fly safe!

Len

[Tumbleweed]

OK,

Do you know why it happened?

[Gyronaut]

The whole story is at http://www.rotaryforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18743

[Low Level]

Coming from this thread on the rotary forum something bothers me.

Question to the experienced guys - how do you put negative load on a rotor ? That's one that boggles my mind. Even at zero forward airspeed, the downward speed will compensate and keep the g's on the rotor in the correct direction - even with a gust of wind.

Spinning at 350 r.p.m, will a gust of wind really have such an enormous influence on the rotor ? For a second or two it might act strange, but the gyro will react accordingly, falling, and forces will balance again, or am I missing something ?

I, for one love to come in high, pull back the stick and hover down till still at safe height, push the nose down and land. Now I'm worried.

[Rudix]

Question to the experienced guys - how do you put negative load on a rotor ? That's one that boggles my mind. Even at zero forward airspeed, the downward speed will compensate and keep the g's on the rotor in the correct direction - even with a gust of wind.

Hi Ldel,

To put negative load (G's) on a rotor you need to push forward (hard) while flying relative fast, same as in a fixed wing.

Fly safe,
Rudi

[Gyronaut]

I agree Rudix, It can also happen if you climb steeply then push the nose over while your inertia is still carrying you upwards. Or flying fast and pushing the nose hard forward (as in nap of the earth flying) as you described. The same phenomenon can happen in helicopters with teetering rotor systems and can result in 'mast bumping' which is likely to sever the rotor shaft.

If you ever feel weightless in a rotorwing (without a rigid rotor system) be afraid, very afraid.

Power Push Over (PPO) is a widely known and well documented risk in pusher-type Gyro's with high thrust lines. Gyro's with large horizontal stabilisers are less likely to have power push over at speed since the forward motion keeps the Horisontal Stabiliser authority and will resist the push over.

I personally think the risk of this happening during normal flight operations are very very slim in todays machines and given good training. When you find yourself in severe turbulance its a different matter all together. You could become weightless, disorientated and unload the rotor inadvertantly with dire consequences. The only sure-fire way to avoid it is not to fly in circumstances like that and if it happens, do a precautionary landing and wait out the weather. I have done this and survived.

Remember, there are no Old/Bold pilots. I'm an old one.

[FO Gyro]

I have split this thread so that any further discussion regarding mountain flying can be posted under the new topic "Mountain Flying".

Please use this new topic, unless anything more can be added to the original fatal accident that Jetranger posted originally.