Originally Posted by
gulliBell
If an explanation for anything could be unbelievable, yet feasible, that would be it. Maybe give him an S76 to drive instead, then he wouldn't have to worry so much about which pedal to push. Just keep both feet off the pedals and let the collective yaw mixer and auto-pilot take care of directional business. Oh, on 2nd thought, disregard that, now that I remember the altitude you need to operate at. You'd be solving one problem and causing another.
Perfectly believable to me. Classic startle effect. Some people just freeze like rabbits in the headlights when they are scared. I have had students in the sim, who have crashed with me saying to them " Lower the collective, lower the collective! , LOWER THE COLLECTIVE,
LOWER THE COLLECTIVE!!!" Complete failure to respond - brain temporarily shut down.