They better rethink the Delta 3 application for the R44 if they think that it helps to make it more stable in turbulence...
Daewoo of the sky
So, if we had a "automatic autorotation entry device" coupled to the RRPM, that would mean increased exposure to damage when the RRPM decays in a hovering auto. Generally you don't want to drop the collective too much when you are in a 6ft hover and the engine quits.
I would rather bleed off all the RRPM rolling to the right and fall down the hill, than settle into my passangers as they perform a hover exit from the left of the aircraft. RRPM use is the discretion of the pilot.
Surely there are other good reasons that manufacturers have not installed these. Myself, I was trained to respond to all problems by heading for the ground. Auto was the quickest and generally it puts you into a place where you can quickly access what is happening. I once met a small whirlwind in a B47 and the resultant was ...ummm.... interesting. Needless to say, when we were upright again, I had to roll on the throttle and recover from an induced autorotation. Instinct....
Happened much faster than 1 second and the training to drop pitch and then access the problem (height specific of course) was done without cognitive thought. Just one of a few occurances where the reactions are faster than the thinking.
Many would say that is not uncommon for me thou....hahaha
Still I am amazed, as Shawn was, with the experienced pilots that you go for a training flight with who have no preconcieved idea about what they are going to do in an emergency.
Every rig departure, of which there were 35 a day, required you to think about each stage of the next 20secs and what you would do if the engine quit here, there and down there. It took a lot of discipline to focus because the engine very rarely quit. But we did have a lot of other interesting caution lights which encouraged forethought about your immediate actions.
When your life span can be measured in seconds, you better have a plan.
...and having seen the number of wheelchair bound people who have fallen off ladders and got a free helo ride....
Budgie, take my advice and stay off the ladder.