Here a Pic of the Viking pod, there was different versions of it, some were just cargo pods and some were a mixed of cargo and aux fuel tank.
500 Fan I don't remember having any problems with Autorotations and the pod installed. Just had to be careful landing in the bush, you could damage it easily on stumps etc.
Photo taken in LG2 Quebec, Canada 1979, Viking Heli, bran new D model.
JD
