Just going along with your hypothetical scenario...
The "junior pilot" was probably flying with his heart in his throat and thereby stayed alive through superior focus, determination and use of basic skills. Meanwhile it was all old hat to "chief pilot" and complacency got him.
Yet another idea: the visibility was superior in the R44 cockpit because in the 505 cockpit those shining beacons of Garmin technology were reflecting off of the canopy like crazy and/or just plain old ****-canning whatever night vision the "chief pilot" had.
Last edited by aa777888; 8th Mar 2019 at 09:59.