Originally Posted by
SASless
Having never seen a EC-130....can anyone enlighten me about possible Yaw Control issues at the loading and DA the aircraft was operating at when it crashed?
Does the 130 have similar limitations similar to the Bell 206 series at certain altitudes/wind directions?
Two 360 rotations as described does suggest a possible lack of sufficient yaw output or a loss of thrust due to a failure of some kind.
I too wonder what the “down river/wind” comment was actually saying.
Was the approach down wind?
My experience of the 130 at high density (16,000 pa ISA +23) suggests not. Even when lifting at this height with loads at the max performance page figures plus, still never thought the tail would let go. Was on the stops on a few occasions but still it felt controlled. A very capable helicopter at altitude and in the wind provided you keep ahead of it.