RayNAiken wrote:
I can tell you of an experience we had at ROC in Aiken one year. A helicopter had it's ass end into the wind when he lifted. Evidently he did not have enough tail rotor authority and it did the same thing in that video. The pilot blamed it on the crowd and the airport invited us to hold the ROC event elsewhere. The ROC event is now the Wrens event.
But any helicopter pilot should be aware of the wind direction and tail rotor blanketing resulting from wind direction? It only takes a second to be facing a safer direction into the wind, unless it is parked in a real tight place.... then, if it is too dangerous (the wind direction) then you have to wait.... or clip on a pair of dolly's and pull it to somewhere safer
To me, in that last video.... neither of them had thought to use the cyclic for what it was designed for.... to level the rotors? My eyes nearly popped out of my head when I saw the leg come out of the door
Looking at the end of the video tho... I am not sure that the guy in the left seat (actual drivers seat?) is conscious? He appears to be slumped back in the seat with one leg out of the door, but not trying to reach the ground?
I actually think the pilot passed out whilst hovering and the guy in the right seat (maybe non pilot) had to do the best he could, without knowing what he was doing, to get it on the ground,,, no pilot with any training would try to hold up a leaning chopper with their leg?
Another possibility is a teenage son and his mate 'THINK' they can fly Dads chopper.... and discover it is harder than it looks?
Does anyone know the actual, full story?