Originally Posted by
ShyTorque
The Squirrel has a clip on the bulkhead and a corresponding metal "pip" on the lever to hold down the collective. If this isn't engaged, the collective rises as the hydraulics come on line during the start sequence and the aircraft goes light on the skids all by itself. I used to put my knee across the collective to make doubly sure this "gotcha" didn't "get me".
Hardly, Shy. With hyds off, the lever will go to about 8degrees of pitch - takes a considerable force to push it down to engage the clip. What can happen, if the clip is not adjusted correctly, is that as the hyds come on the clip releases, but the lever won't rise unless the hyds are then switched off (why we double check the clip and put friction on before the hyd functionals).