Originally Posted by
SASless
At what point and for what duration did the aircraft last hover prior to reaching the start point in the graphic?
The dual engine flameout due to fuel starvation might not have happened during a hover....but the last bit of hovering set up the outcome for sure.
Was that last hover commanded by Police Ops or did the Crew take it on outside of direction from Central Control?
Why is the Aircraft/Police Ops radio conversation(s) being withheld?
SAS, once the transfer pumps are selected OFF (Which the evidence pointed to in this case), and the fuel in the main tanks is below the level of the overspill, the supply tanks begin to empty in isolation of the main tank. The attitude of the helicopter from this point onwards makes no real difference to the eventual outcome once the supply tanks become depleted. Fuel starvation is inevitable. The helicopter was recovered with virtually zero fuel in the supply tanks and around 78 KGS left in the main tank.
That is my understanding.
It looks to me that the first engine flamed out whilst he was routing back to his home base and 32 seconds later the second flamed out. Looking at the distance covered in those 32 seconds, it would indicate a fast cruise (100kts+).
Unless anyone else has another synopsis to offer.