Gyroplanes equipped with a properly proportioned horizontal stabiliser are
quite resistant to Pilot-induced-oscillations (PIO) and consequent
Power-pushover (PPO).
PIO is avoidable. PPO is unrecoverable.
Most BRITISH gyroplanes do not have adequate horizontal stabilisers fitted.
The rest of the world has moved on, and these type of accidents are declining
as a result.
In the UK, gyro pilots cannot install a horizontal stabiliser unless it has passed
BCAR Section T requirements.
The stringency of these requirements, and the cost of meeting them, for what
is essentially a hobby activity, has resulted in the continued flying of unsafe
and unstabilised designs.
I have a term for this. I call them Administration-induced accidents.
Recent Mandatory Permit Directives in this area demonstrate an apparent
refusal to recognise the Catch 22 which is at work here.
It is, apparently, far more important to cover administrative @rses, than to
allow the adoption of devices that have demonstrably reduced the accident
rate elsewhere.
Simple question; How many PIO/PPO accidents have occurred in properly
stabilised machines.
Answer: Possibly 1.
It may well be that I am wrong in this instance, but the general point is
correct.
The eye-witness account quoted in the BBC yesterday had all the hall-marks
of a PIO/PPO accident, and someone here has said conditions were gusty.
If anyone can let me know the name of the unfortunate victim, please e-mail
me at
[email protected],as I know some gyro-heads over there.
A properly stabilised gyroplane has broadly the same weather limitations as
a helicopter, and for similar reasons.
Low-G is a potential killer on ANY teetering rotor system, gyro or helicopter.
Regards
Fergus Kavanagh