Have a read of the procedure for carrying out a max contingency check on the Lynx, and look at the parameters that it asks to be set and to be recorded…and then think about why.
Basically, the check is to ensure that an engine can provide enough power, without exceeding set limits, to keep the rotor speed within a % margin to keep the helicopter in the air. A/c weight, collective pitch setting (Tq), OAT, aircraft speed and density altitude are all factors to consider.
Think.... 'a twin-engined helicopter is taking off, with little forward speed, and an engine fails. What does the good engine have to achieve?'
That's why we do max cont checks.
Think about why an engine wouldn't be running as efficiently as it should, and that should give you a few clues as to why an engine might fail its check.
Sloppy cyclic? If a helicopter starts to loose height, what does the pilot do with the collective? What affect does this have on the pitch of the rotor blades? What happens next if blades can’t produce any more lift ?
Last edited by nodrama; 20th Dec 2009 at 09:57.