Originally Posted by
JohnDixson
Is there anyone viewing who can amplify on the underlying reasons behind this design concept?
The design on the nose wheel steering is self explanatory, a helicopter nearly 17 tons is better taxied of course with a nose wheel steering system, like on medium size airplanes on rather that stressing the fuselage with a tail rotor steering system. The strut design is as well justified because the helicopter design is originally for maritime/offshore use and whoever has been in the offshore/navy world knows how uncomfortable is having a helicopter parked on a deck that is rolling on a period that is in counter face to the period of the rolling deck on a sea state due to the struts that are working hard to keep the helicopter parallel to the ground as per the design of any dampener. Going further on the possible causes, it has been mentioned PIO (pilot induced oscillation) it happened to me either in flight with an underslung load of 2,5 tons and during landing on a deck. Someone has named it as ground resonance but is clearly PIO because increases with the time and even if you get airborne and remove the pivoting point (ground resonance cause) the aircraft still shakes increasingly. It can result in a loss of control and catastrophic consequences. The pilot should release momentarily the controls and the aircraft instantaneously stops shaking..... good luck with that!!! 😁