Robbie Autos, Step 6

[pilot#476398]

Power failure above 500 feet AGL

 

6. If unable to restart, turn off unnecessary switches and shut off fuel.

 

Do any of you CFIs teach/practice this,...because none of mine ever have! Do you maybe have the student verbalize it, or have them take their hand off the collective, reach around, and tap your left shoulder, or something?

 

I've read about some of you verbalizing the restart proceedure, so I thought I'd ask about the next step!

[Flying Pig]

You are going to have a few moments of "this cant be happening to me" before your brain accepts the fact that it DID just happen to you. If you somehow managed to actually enter a successful auto, PLEASE dont screw it up by trying to turn off the Master Switch!

 

A single pilot air restart while in an auto?........ Yeah.. OK.

Edited April 8, 2013 by Flying Pig

[rjl2001]

I only had one CFI during my training who did expect me to reach over to simulate turning off the fuel while in the auto. He also expected to hear me give a simulated MAYDAY call. Don't see how it could be a bad idea. That being said, I've never had to simulate the restart procedure, usually just verbalize that it is part of the procedure.

[pilot#476398]

You are going to have a few moments of "this cant be happening to me" before your brain accepts the fact that it DID just happen to you. If you somehow managed to actually enter a successful auto, PLEASE dont screw it up by trying to turn off the Master Switch!

 

A single pilot air restart while in an auto?........ Yeah.. OK.

 

Who said anything about turning off the master switch?

[DieselBoy]

A single pilot air restart while in an auto?........ Yeah.. OK.

 

Agreed.

 

I never taught a student a maneuver I did not want them doing. They knew the procedure but never practiced it. If we constantly flew at 5000' AGL then yes, I would practice it. At 500' AGL they need to be holding that collective and cyclic, finding a landing spot, monitoring RRPM and airspeed, and shortening or extending the glide.

[zippiesdrainage]

The unnecessary switches applies to ditching power off when it's the appropriate time to shut off the master battery and alternator. Or switch on the pilot iso so you don't have to listen to the passengers scream.

Edited April 10, 2013 by zippiesdrainage

[pilot#476398]

The unnecessary switches applies to ditching power off when it's the appropriate time to shut off the master battery and alternator. Or switch on the pilot iso so you don't have to listen to the passengers scream.

 

In my POH turning off the battery and alternator is only part of "Ditching - Power On". Where are you getting your information?

[DieselBoy]

The ditching procedures in the POH are only recommendations and not limited to. If you are ditching "Power-Off" then you've already lost the alternator, common sense tells me I can turn off the alt switch if I choose. If I do not need the radios, ICS, or lights then I will kill the Master too. RRPM will still be operable.

[zippiesdrainage]

You're right the unnecessary switch would only be the master battery in a power off ditching situation good catch. I misspoke...err mistyped.

Edited April 11, 2013 by zippiesdrainage

[Spike]

From going silent to ground contact was about 8 seconds. Being this occurred in mountainous terrain, during those 8 seconds, to stretch the glide and put it down, I was working the collective like a mo-fo …. IMO, unless you fly near the stratosphere, when she quits, your hands will be glued to the controls…. As they should be....

With that, the procedure is, save your a**and fly the machine in autorotation with muscle memory…. Like Maverick said, “If you have to think, you’re dead…”

Edited April 11, 2013 by Spike

[pilot#476398]

To be honest, I've never really been sure which switches to consider "unnecessary", and at 1000' I doubt there'd be enough time to find out, however...back to the topic question!

 

Shutting off the fuel! I'm sure it would take a CFI with a pretty big set of cahones to let his student take his hand off the collective during a practice auto, to even simulate the step, so I doubt any of you teach it?

 

...but, would you do it in a real auto?

[Guest pokey]

Who said anything about turning off the master switch?

 

always turn off the master switch !

 

The pilot was flying a Hughes 300 herding game somewhere in South Africa. They were moving from one area to another and the pilot apparently being bored began doing low passes over the recovery vehicle trying to frighten the occupants. On one of these passes from the back of the pickup he got to low and the one skid entered through the back window of the pickup and did the can opener trick. What happened next is not clear but the pilot ended up sitting in his seat with nothing left around him a hundred yards or so down the road with parts of the 300 all over the place. He loosened his safety belt got off the seat and walked to the instrument panel lying a few yards away and switched off the master.

[DieselBoy]

Every situation will be different. In an actual engine failure, my altitude, terrain below, and LZ will determine whether or not I turn off the fuel and unnecessary switches. Turning those off is to minimize a POST-CRASH fire. Don't screw up a perfect auto by trying to do "unnecessary" actions.

[Counterrotate]

Are we really having this conversation? The only reason that garbage is in the POH is to cover RHC's @$$. Listen to Spike. He knows the real deal. Who gives a damn about switches when you have 10 seconds or less to get the thing on the ground in a hopefully survivable heap? Air restart? I laugh every time someone even mentions it. Even from 5,000 feet AGL I think 100% of my attention would be on flying the ship to a suitable landing spot. I really don't think trying to restart would even enter my mind. Memorize and recite any garbage that your flight school requires you to recite. But if that engine ever goes quiet on you, forget that sh!t and fly the damn aircraft!