212man, where did I EVER suggest a modification to SOPs, WHERE?
My ideas run along the line that I'm convinced that more can be done in helo design to make loss of T/R more survivable (both for pilots and airframes). Obviously this puts the ideas in the realm of experimental flight test, where they belong. Clearly ANY new procedure has to be thoroughly understood through analysis and flight test before incorporating them into ANY SOP or emergency procedure. You're not foolish enough to violate this fundamental wisdom of flight, and neither am I. Enough said.
Anyway, FWIW, I was already having second thoughts about the drogue chute idea, as I see 2 problems already. One, a tether of any length could allow the chute to get caught in either the tail rotor or the main rotor with bad results following. Second, in forward flight with any airspeed, the chute could get caught in the rotor downwash causing an interesting pitch problem.
A third idea is that it might be helpful to design the tailboom as a structure that's both fairly narrow with broader flatter sides. This might help in 2 areas. One, it could add more keel area to the rear of the airframe, thus augmenting the vertical stabilizer in yaw control in forward flight after T/R loss occures. Second, if you added collective to climb out of a bad situation, the broad flat sides could help control the spin rate by offering significant drag in the spin (all to be tested and validated in fligh test of course). The tailboom and remaining airframe structure would have to be stressed for the spin rate produced by a slow climb after loss of T/R, if such a capability were to be designed into an airframe.
The main subject of this thread was landing after a loss of T/R. I think its fair to discuss both ways to accomplish this with current SOPs, and what could possibly be done in the future to improve this particular situation in helo airframes.
All I know is that climbing out with increased spin rate after T/R loss is a reasonable idea with some merit in certain circumstances, as it surely kept GulfPLt from getting tangled up with a crane. His passengers may have been screaming like girls, but at least they were able to safely clean out their drawers after he landed.
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Safe flying to you...
[This message has been edited by Flight Safety (edited 02 July 2001).]