PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Tailrotor failure - is it always unrecoverable ?
Old 21st Sep 2017, 01:16
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gulliBell
 
Join Date: May 2002
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Originally Posted by jellycopter
My personal soapbox. Why do we insist on calling completely unrelated malfunctions virtually the same name? Tail Rotor Drive Failure versus Tail Rotor Control Failure...
Because that is what they are. It is not possible to be confused which of the 2 you have, whatever you care to call them. They are so obviously different malfunctions.

TR drive failure don't even bother getting out the emergency checklist, the immediate actions are all memory items. If it's an impending failure e.g. vibration in pedals or airframe, TGB/IGB chip light on, grinding noise etc, but you still have pedal authority then sure, turn towards a suitable landing area and get out the ECL and review the procedure. Maintain height, slow down to best rate of climb speed. Do not descend until you arrive at a point in space where you can execute an autorotation to the landing area.

TR control malfunction there are no memory ECL items, this is a far more sedate problem to deal with. You have time to get out the ECL. The next thing is put your test pilot hat on and diagnose the problem as per the checklist. But as I said before, it doesn't matter whether stuck pedal, broken control cable etc, the landing technique is the same for all of the causes of TR control problem.

Whether TR drive failure or TR control malfunction, if you have a suitable landing area to aim for you should be able to execute a safe landing without putting a scratch on the aircraft.
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