Originally Posted by
gulliBell
I'm 30 year rusty on pistons also, but isn't there something called a magneto check as part of the after start checklist? If you do that check as called for I'd find it difficult to believe the magneto switch was not in the both position at take-off. Also, the VHF radio came to the party pretty late so I'm wondering how abbreviated the pre-take off checklist was. I bet he wished his initial climb was at 500+ fpm, give him a few extra hundred feet and time to do some pilot stuff, such as a restart attempt, warn the passengers, etc.
No way would you attempt a restart in an R44 at anything below 1000' after the engine quits. More height would have given him a better auto option and he would probably have even been able to auto safely from 500' and realise the error of his ways and restart and go on his way. Instead it appears ( I am only going from what I can see and my R44 flying experience) he has written off a perfectly serviceable machine because the mag switch wasn't on both.