PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Pre Flight Inspection Discoveries
View Single Post
Old 6th Jan 2023, 20:42
  #41 (permalink)  
albatross
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Canada
Posts: 1,724
Received 138 Likes on 67 Posts
A story is told of daze of old. The Tail Rotor Drive Shaft Cover on the 42 degree vertical fin of a 205 or 212 being left unfastened. It flipped open during landing at a location to drop some pax. As the helicopter accelerated after departure the now open cover caused a very pronounced nose up attitude and the cyclic rapidly ran out of forward travel until the nose up attitude slowed the aircraft. Then the nose went back down and the aircraft accelerated again and up went the nose..this oscillation went on for a few cycles until order was restored. The helicopter was landed ASAP, shut down and there was considerable in the way of swearing and cursing. Fortunately the pilot and pax quickly cut some trees down ( it helps to be flying survey crews equipped with chain saws, axes and bush savvy ) and improvised a ladder to get up and securely fasten the cowling. A rather detailed walk-around was conducted before departing.
albatross is offline