To be honest I have no idea how you could find yourself at that kind of angle in a heli (or gyrocopter for that matter, which is what my friend is really interested in). It was more of a theoretical question. I know what to do in a plane, but really not sure in a heli or GC. Seems to me barring some major upset (and I'm sure you're right that wake turbulence enough to do that would do some serious damage), the only way you'd get there would be by not paying attention for quite a while - as you say.
When I did VFR seriously-unusual attitude training (in an aerobatic aircraft) the way we got to 60° nose up was simple enough. My instructor pulled us through the first 60° of a loop then said "open your eyes and recover". Not sure I know anyone who'd do that in a heli... (btw that training - though not specifically this item - probably did save my life when I got caught in a lee-side rotor).
Anyway thanks for all the answers.
Last edited by n5296s; 6th Oct 2017 at 06:55.