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Richard Mornington-Sanford examines the cold hard truth about carburetor icing in piston engine helicopters, and warns against failing to understand this potential killer.
'Carburetor ice has been linked as the fatal cause of possible accidents involving piston engine helicopters fitted with float-type carburetors. This lamentable fact needs to be better understood if the risks of power loss and even complete engine stoppage is to be avoided'.
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To review parts of the 'No Ice, Thank You' brochure click here...
Order the complete 'No Ice, Thank You' brochure for just £2.50 plus £1.20 P&P within the UK.
click to order ...
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Icing areas within the carburetor |
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Richard Mornington-Sanford is an air accident investigator who is finding it increasingly difficult to remain sanguine when he knows the wrecks and bodies he deals with are almost always a result of bad decision making, often on the ground, before a flight even begins.
' "Its ok I have a night rating"... how many times have I heard this statement from pilots when asked about the risks and suitability of their flight after dark ? '. |
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'Loose sight of the ground, loose your life' |
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Loss of Tail Rotor Effectiveness (LTE) is a critical, low-speed aerodynamic flight characteristic which can result in an un-commanded rapid yaw rate which does not subside of its own accord and, if not corrected, can result in the loss of aircraft control.
LTE is not related to a maintenance malfunction and may occur in varying degrees in all single main rotor helicopters at airspeeds less than 30 knots. LTE is not necessarily the result of a control margin deficiency.
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Review the full article entitled 'Loss of Rotor Tail Effectiveness ' FAA advisory circular.
click to review ...
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Mains rotor disc vortex interface |
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The Helicopter Club of Great Britain is opposing proposed new visibility minima for helicopters on the grounds that new regulations would do nothing to improve safety and may in fact make matters worse.
The CAA wants to introduce minimum visibility of 3km for VFR flight in helicopters and to make VFR flight above cloud illegal, and has proposed to amend the ANO accordingly.
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Helicopter Club of Great Britain |
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Despite bad weather and a brutal hangover 'Richard Mornington-Sanford'
enjoys his visit to The Central Air Force Museum at Monino near Moscow
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Review the full 'Moscow's Magnificent Flying Machines' article. (Rotor Torque).
click to review ...
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Russia's Central Air Force Museum |
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Are we making a good fist of teaching people to fly helicopters? Or are we instilling in them habits that are more likely to kill them, than save their lives?
The question is moot, but there's a body of empirical evidence mostly in the form of accident wreckage - to support the idea that we're not getting it absolutely right.
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Richard Mornington-Sanford |
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At the end of every flight the pilot has to sit and twiddle his or her thumbs, waiting for the engine to cool down.
Believe it or not, this is crucial for the safe and reliable operation not only of your engine but also your bank balance.
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Keeping your cool |
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I thought that I would kick off this new column by trying to clear some very muddy water relating to the overhaul periods for the Robinson R22 and R44 series helicopters and their costs.
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Robinson R44 helicopter |
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Without doubt one of the great parts of my involvement, with Robinson Helicopters is that they send me on missions to some very unusual places; like Ekaterinburg Russia and no, I had never heard of the place either!
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A Robinson helicopter hovers in Russia |
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AOPA has compiled a dossier to present to EASA in pursuit of its campaign for a review of the MJAA requirement for five hours instrument familiarisation training for ab initio helicopter pilots.
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Richard wears his
'Accident Investigator Hat' |
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