Whilst being taught in (wait for it) the R22, I had the benefit of being shown then doing for myself(CFI alongside) a couple of FDA's, after which we made a point of entering an auto(to recoveryat 500ft) with nearly every lesson, needles to say this action now holds no worries for me, if I had to react to the quietness of a failed engine.
BUT with the small nature and strength of components in the R22, what stresses are involved and invoked on the machinery, Ok the skids can be seen if they are not right, but what about the head or inner chassis type frame work, when or where do any stresse's show up on these components, for no matter what you do with your initial walk round before start up, it is impossible to see the area's of potential serious problems, Ie the head the shaft, the alignment of the entire drive system, and yet when eager young and old things are being taught we walk around , examine and very rarely will anyone say what has gone before, is it all down to the knowledge of the CFi's or should some sort of log be kept of what is done in training type Heli's, or is the 50 and 100hr service intervals enough even on the R22 and other trainers!
