Originally Posted by rotorboy
BellFest,
Why is that brave when the proceudre is covered in the companys approved oeprating manual? Like BM said, ever been somewhere hunderds of KM from nowhere, where shutting down the helicopter wasnt the smartest idea. I can come up with a lot of reason why not to do it.
And I agree helicopters do not fly away by themselves. I find it hard to believe at ground idle, with frictions locked a machine will get off the ground.
rb
Unfortunately, helicopters don't even have to get airborne to cause a major accident to either the crew, the passengers or other bystanders. All it takes is a gust of wind to cause the rotor to flap and it's P45 time or hospital for someone at best.
Only if it was a choice between the aircraft not starting in a survival situation and there was no other option might I even consider it. As for planning to refuel AVGAS whilst running and unmanned - forget it, life is short enough as it is! I've always wondered what the actions should be if someone is foolish enough to attempt that and there is a fire........run, walk away thinking about the next employment, or stay inside the rotor disc, risking severe injury, death or burns and try to fight the fire and/or shut down the aircraft.....then think about the next employment
