To: S76Heavy
Doesn't this support the case for a technical solution to increase reaction times? We're all human and after years of flying without engine failures, we're no longer really ready for it (although we still think we are). Inevitably, some form of complacency will set in, I suppose.
Many years ago the Hydraulics design group at Sikorsky undertook the design of a device that would provide that one-second reaction time without any input from the pilot.
The device was connected to the collective stick. It was cylindrical in shape and inside of the cylinder was a piston. One side of the piston was connected to the servo hydraulic system and the other side of the piston had a spring. The operating concept had the hydraulic system pressurize the piston compressing the spring. The spring was then in the cocked position and the trigger mechanism that released the spring was connected to the engine oil pressure system. The instant the oil pressure dropped the spring would be released forcing the collective stick down establishing autorotation.
There was one minor problem. In order to cock the piston (compressed spring) the hydraulic pressure had to raise the collective stick. The pressure would increase from zero to about 300 to 400 PSI raising the piston but the servo pump was driven from the transmission and at the same time the pressure rose to the point of cocking the cylinder the blades were rotating about 100 RPM. This significant increase in pitch would result in blade sailing and eventual stall out causing the blades to impact the tail cone.
And, another hare brained scheme bit the dust.
