PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - AS 350: "Hold my beer son and watch this!"
Old 3rd Jul 2018, 19:10
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Ascend Charlie
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Great South East, tired and retired
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I asked my instructor at the time why there were no limits and he didn't really know. Yet every fixed wing aircraft, even if all it has is a 65HP engine, has published G limits.
All helos are designed to cope with a 60 degree bank turn, which is 2g, plus a gust factor and a bit for mum and the kids - usually set at 2.7 g, so their accepted teetering head limits are +1 to +2g, allowing the fudge factor to be set at 2.7. But that is when you can expect the head to pop off. The lower limit, as shown, is +1, meaning it ain't designed for nose-overs that get less than 1g, and certainly not negative g.

Stronger machines with a rigid head like the BK117 have a published limit of -1 to +3.5, so there is still a fudge factor above that one.
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