Regarding the recent crash of Helimer 207
The thing I dont understand is that rescuers report, they only found a helmet floating on the water. I guess it was a very hard impact, but what about the floatation system?
Would the floats inflate even in a very hard impact on the water? If they shear off, will they still swim? If the floats deploy delayed, can they bring the machine back on the water surface?
This is what the flight manual states:
GENERAL INFORMATION
Emergency Flotation and Life Raft System Part N° 3G9560F00111
The flotation bags are automatically deployed on ditching by water
sensors (2 of the four sensors must be activated for flotation inflation)
or by manual operation of the guarded FLOAT pushbutton on either
the Pilot or Copilot collective grip.
For operation of both automatic or manual flotation inflation the switch
on the FLOATS EMERG control panel mounted in the interseat console
(pilots side), must be set to ON. The control panel also incorporates
a self test function for the flotation system.
WARNING
Do not deploy flotation bags in flight. Bags
will automatically deploy on water touchdown.
IN FLIGHT PROCEDURES
1. FLOATS EMER switch
Over land operation — Confirm OFF.
Over water operation — Confirm ARMED, FLOAT ARM caution
displayed on CAS