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Helicopter flight safety questions


TheLegend27

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Hello all, first post here.

 

I'm currently interested in getting a Private Pilot's License, but I have a few concerns regarding the safety of flying helicopters. I used to have anxiety prior to plane flights, but after a while of being around people who were NOT anxious (and understanding that plane flights are much safer than travel by car), I got over it. However, it seems like so many things could go wrong when flying a helicopter, and there are three main things that scare me the most:

 

-Possible collisions with other aircraft (commercial flights after takeoff or prior to lading?)

 

-Bad weather (particularly lightning, although lightning is rare the area I live in)

 

-Mechanical malfunctions (I've seen techniques used to land smoothly when the engine fails, but there seem to be a plethora of other possible issues a helicopter can have while airborne).

 

Basically, I'd appreciate of someone could tell me a little bit about any regulations that can prevent aerial collisions, how pilots deal with bad weather (whether it's the helicopter that can be unaffected by lightning, or if there are techniques that pilots must know), and how frequent malfunctions are (and how dependent they are on the type of helicopter).

 

Thanks in advance.

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Collisions--The FAA does have numerous regulations in reducing the risk of mid-air collisions. These include flying certain altitudes depending on whether you're flying on a easterly or westerly heading, standardized traffic patterns at airports, ATC transponder and radio communication requirements, differing levels of ATC aircraft separation depending on how busy the airspace is, etc. Even with all of this, pilots are required to "see-and-avoid" other aircraft and there's a whole standard set of right-of-way rules that go along with that as well. Mid-air collisions do happen, but are very rare and you're still more likely to be involved in a traffic accident in a car.

 

Bad weather--Thunderstorms are extremely dangerous and if there is one in close proximity, we don't fly. You'll learn about weather as part of your training and as you do, you'll learn how to check the weather, avoid it, and stay safe. The more common weather related issue in aviation is getting yourself into poor or zero visibility, leading to disorientation. Avoiding situations like these is all about good preflight planning and even better decision making skills...all covered in training, so pay attention during your ground lessons.

 

Mechanical issues--Again, emergency procedures training is covered in your training. Practice makes perfect and you'll be flying with a more experienced instructor who won't sign you off to fly by yourself until he's confident you won't be a hazard to yourself or others.

 

With all of the areas of concern you have listed, it is important to do some research and seek out a reputable flight training facility where you'll be confident that they will teach you how to identify and mitigate these risks in flying. I myself ended up moving to the other side of the country to attend a good flight school, and I ended up being glad that I did.

 

Good luck on your endeavor.

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Hello all, first post here.

 

I'm currently interested in getting a Private Pilot's License, but I have a few concerns regarding the safety of flying helicopters. I used to have anxiety prior to plane flights, but after a while of being around people who were NOT anxious (and understanding that plane flights are much safer than travel by car), I got over it. However, it seems like so many things could go wrong when flying a helicopter, and there are three main things that scare me the most:

 

-Possible collisions with other aircraft (commercial flights after takeoff or prior to lading?)

 

Mid-air collisions happen, generally at points where traffic congests- airports especially. Commercial flights are *generally* at airports with very active air traffic control and procedures to maintain separation between all aircraft.

 

My practice for the last several decades has been AVOID airports (especially if they do not have air traffic control) and minimize time on runway center lines, arriving and leaving. Your training will cover a lot of helicopter "defensive driving".

 

-Bad weather (particularly lightning, although lightning is rare the area I live in)

 

Bad weather comes in a lot of flavors beyond thunderstorms and lightning. The good news is that if I'm flying a helicopter, I can land almost anywhere in an emergency. If it's getting tense in any way weather-wise, I go around, go back, or land. And have many, many times...

 

-Mechanical malfunctions (I've seen techniques used to land smoothly when the engine fails, but there seem to be a plethora of other possible issues a helicopter can have while airborne).

 

In almost 5 decades of flying I have had 2 sudden engine failures that came without indication of an impending issue. I can't count the number of times that I have aborted a flight or shut-down the worrisome SECOND engine of a helicopter with two engines. Not enough that I worry about it, but I am always considering where I'll land when the engine quits. That will be drilled into you in flight training such that it becomes almost automatic.

I am counting in my mind the number of other in-flight mechanical issues... three, no- four failures of either air frame or control systems that were actual emergencies. Any indication of a problem generally means I land and call maintenance. I intend to be wrong on the ground and safe, not in the air.

I had a reputation at my previous employer as a trouble maker because I seemed to have more frequent mechanical issues. But I was flying an air frame that was a notorious maintenance hog.The maintenance department always fixed the problems such that my passengers and I had mostly very boring flights

 

Basically, I'd appreciate of someone could tell me a little bit about any regulations that can prevent aerial collisions, how pilots deal with bad weather (whether it's the helicopter that can be unaffected by lightning, or if there are techniques that pilots must know), and how frequent malfunctions are (and how dependent they are on the type of helicopter).

 

Thanks in advance.

 

You will be as safe as you want to be, in spite of whatever rules, weather, whatever. Being a little apprehensive is a positive survival trait in the profession just as it is life.

Edited by Wally
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I've been flying privately for fourteen years now.

 

Flying through controlled airspace you'll have people telling you where other traffic is. However, once you leave that, you're all on your own. I've had a few close calls with fixed-wingers whom I've just assumed couldn't see me, and were (for some reason) not on the local CTAF, so they couldn't hear me either? So in the end you have to be vigilant in scanning for them, because our little robbies are very hard to see!

 

As for weather? As a private pilot you won't have company minimums to tell you not to fly today. So you have to develope your own personal minimums, AND STICK WITH THEM!

 

BEWARE OF GET HOME ITIS!!! It has killed many a private pilot and their unsuspecting, trusting passengers!

 

Mechanical issues? I've had a few minor ones while renting, but nothing that's brought me down unexpectedly,...excuse me while I find some wood to knock on. I've rented from a few different schools and found maintenance to be pretty good, however, in the end, its up to you to make a thorough pre-flight, and question EVERYTHING that makes you think to yourself, "is this supposed to be like this?"

 

A trip to the Robinson Safety Course is also a good idea. They will give you a much more thorough understanding of the helicopter you (most likely) will be flying!

 

As a private pilot there's only so much they will teach you during initial training,...and a lot they won't! Hell back when I got mine off airport landings and 180 autos weren't part of the curriculum. I had to learn them afterwards from the place I was renting. Not to mention full-down autos, another thing for which I had to seek out training!

 

Being a private pilot is awesome!,...especially flying a helicopter!

 

Seek out recurrent training, always pre-flight thoroughly, always get a weather briefing, and if the little man inside you says he doesn't want to do this today, LISTEN TO HIM!

 

,...and lightning is easy to avoid, just don't fly when thunderstorms are around! :D

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However, it seems like so many things could go wrong when flying a helicopter, and there are three main things that scare me the most:

 

-Possible collisions with other aircraft (commercial flights after takeoff or prior to lading?)

 

-Bad weather (particularly lightning, although lightning is rare the area I live in)

 

-Mechanical malfunctions (I've seen techniques used to land smoothly when the engine fails, but there seem to be a plethora of other possible issues a helicopter can have while airborne).

 

Basically, I'd appreciate of someone could tell me a little bit about any regulations that can prevent aerial collisions, how pilots deal with bad weather (whether it's the helicopter that can be unaffected by lightning, or if there are techniques that pilots must know), and how frequent malfunctions are (and how dependent they are on the type of helicopter).

 

 

 

First of all, these things apply to any aircraft, not just helicopters. Second of all, regulations don't prevent collisions. Neither does safety equipment. Pilot action prevents collisions, and some of that does involve following accepted practices and procedures and yes, some regulations.

 

We have rules about altitudes to fly, depending on direction. We have traffic patterns, requirements to see and avoid other traffic, impending requirements for equipment that helps locate other traffic in flight and reports our position, air traffic control services that assist in separating some traffic, and a host of other means, but it comes down to seeing and avoiding. Ultimately, it's the pilot's responsibility to avoid trading paint with other aircraft in flight.

 

Bad weather? Don't fly. Fly around it. Fly a different direction. Drive. Delay the flight. Use instrument procedures. Don't fly when it's unsafe; bottom line.

 

Mechanical malfunctions happen. If you fly for very long, they will happen to you. We spend a great deal of our effort in training and planning with the intent of handling a malfunction, rather than a perfectly functioning piece of equipment. We train for instrument failures, powerplant failures, radio failures, and many other malfunctions. We have procedures, alternate equipment, checklists, etc, which address mechanical malfunctions.

 

Having been struck in flight a number of times by lightning, I can tell you that the best way to not get struck is to not fly where there's lightning. One of my duties some years ago was atmospheric research; specifically, thunderstorm penetration and flying an airplane equipped with scientific sensors and data gathering instrumentation into thunderstorms. I have a fair amount of experience flying in thunderstorms, and I'd be quite content to never go near another. If you learn to fly, don't go near a single one. They contain very bad things, lightning being the least of your concerns. Don't go near thunderstorms in an aircraft, whether helicopter, airplane, or anything else. Bad things can happen.

 

Your questions and concerns are addressed by proper training and ultimately by good judgement as pilot in command.

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Can being struck by lightning cause an engine failure?

 

 

Yes, it can.

 

It can do a lot of damage, or a little. It's common for a lightning strike to do little damage, leaving a small burn mark at entry and at exit, but it's also very possible to require dismantling the airframe to have it degaussed, as well as the engine, etc. I'v e had that happen twice.

 

Lightning can cause failure of components, burns, structural failures, etc, but those are not common. I've had a lot of strikes which left little visible damage, and a number of ones that burned holes in the airframe, control surfaces, engine components, etc, and caused electrical damage, structural damage, avionics loss, and a host of other problems. I've never had a lightning strike which resulted in an engine failure, but yes, it's possible.

 

Lightning can occur some distance from a thunderstorm, so it's possible to be away from the storm and still incur a lightning strike, but most strikes occur near or in thunderstorms.

Edited by avbug
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Depending on where you fly, bird strikes can be a very real concern. São Paulo area is plagued by vultures, that happen to not announce their position in the radio, nor activate their transponders. They are black, but the good thing is that they never fly at night.

 

Your local fauna will likely be different, but you'd better to stay vigilant anyway.

 

I once had to dodge a yellow bird that came heads on when I was doing 100KT in a 44. A very close call. A little left cyclic, and I saw a yellow spot zipping past my right side like a bullet.

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