Nope, never practiced this!

[Wannabe1]

So at what level do you practice this auto?

 

 

Best Regards,

Tom

[JDHelicopterPilot]

Did them all the time but I never did any below 500' AGl.

[BOATFIXERGUY]

Looks a lot more exciting than it should be. Done them in the enstrom at 100' and it's a lot going on really quick. In the enstrom you have a tremendous amount of rotor to use. Can't imagine doing one in an R22.

[mechanic]

Here is another auto vid'...

 

A

doing 20ft autos...

[Autorotator]

I was pretty impressed with the stability the Mosquito had, but the thing sounded like a weed whacker. I wouldn't fly that thing any higher than about 5'.

[SquirrelFlight]

It's powered by a Rotax, no? Aren't those designed to operate at higher RPM?

[Node]

while maybe not the best idea to be practicing from 100-200', doing 0 speed from this altitude isn't that bad. But there is a BIG difference between just entering the auto by lowering the collective and rolling off (like you do normally to practice), and throttle chop from this altitude. There is a reason it is in the HV diagram . Ask your CFI to try one with you at altitude (1000 or mor agl I would sujest....) and have him throttle chop it and roll on and recover; then see how much altitude you have lost. Then think about doing it at at 200' in a real emegency.

 

**of course my remarks are about the R-22 just to clarify**

Edited April 23, 2008 by Node

[Gomer Pylot]

Needs some practice on yaw control, but otherwise it's pretty straightforward. It's not the same as having the engine fail unexpectedly, but the practice is certainly worthwhile. It's possible to make a successful auto from most regimes, if you're quick and good. Those who have never done touchdown autos at all will be at a great disadvantage, however. The top of an auto is easy, it's the last 10 feet that you have to be good at. I've never understood doing autos to a power recovery, because it doesn't teach you what you have to know. I've done touchdown autos in everything I've flown, for the past 40 years, including 412s and S76s, and I think that practice is absolutely essential. Autos from a 200' hover are certainly advanced maneuvers, not for new students, but they need to be done at some point, because helicopter pilots spend time there, and should be prepared to do them when the engine gets quiet. If you've never tried it, it can be an eye-opening experience, but with practice it becomes doable.

[Goldy]

I dont disagree- but forget the lil tail wag...those are damn impressive auto's from zero airspeed and 200 feet.

 

Goldy

[specialized]

Good comments as usually.

I was the CFI performing these--

we brought this type of training to our students for the simple reason of showing what can be done to preserve Rotor RPM as best as possible from a situation that could happen. The reality of helicopter flight is that you will spend a lot of time within the hight velocity curve and you need to learn to manage your RPM while in that situation (as part of a complete training program). You would not want your school to omit Full-down autorotation, settling with power or any other rarely encountered event so why would you want to omit low level autorotations from within the H/V curve (most of will at some time spend a few hours flying low and slow).

TO BE CLEAR, there is a safe way to practice these and i do not support any one going out and doing these without first learning the procedures involved that create the safety needed. - These are far trickier than full down auto's and need to be approached with extreme caution.

We have a training syllabus just for this maneuver and again, please don't try this at home!! Seek professional service first!!

I would happy to talk with anyone interested in learning more. ENJOY!

Chris-

[BOATFIXERGUY]

You did a great job Chris... just looks scary in a 22! God bless you 22 drivers!

[Goldy]

Good comments as usually.

I was the CFI performing these--

 

Chris, then this belongs to you "those are damn impressive auto's from zero airspeed and 200 feet."

 

Nice Flying!

 

Goldy

[specialized]

Chris, then this belongs to you "those are damn impressive auto's from zero airspeed and 200 feet."

 

Nice Flying!

 

Goldy

Thank you, real easy when yo get used to it. A little too easy if you know what i mean!

[e36_m3_turbo]

very impressive.

[FLHooker]

I've practiced zero airspeed auto's in the 47 from 100' but only in the SIM! Barely had time to drop the nose to get airspeed before it was time to crank up the thrust to arrest the rate of bang. Fun, none the less (again, in the sim).

 

 

CHAD

[e36_m3_turbo]

Watching the video makes it look like a piece of cake.

[West Coaster]

I had them show to me once during my initial training. During a discussion with the instructor I'd asked if it were possible and he didn't know.... only one way to find out! He did it by chopping the throttle at 100', and it took 3 tries before he got it right without having to roll back in the power at the bottom.

 

It wasn't pretty but it could be done. Thankfully you don't often see an R22 perched atop a 100' line.

 

Kudos to you and your training school Chris. Wish more schools taught advanced stuff like this right to the ground.