Question from a mere spotter

[nowherespecial]

Also worth remembering that most things are easy to do in aviation when your power margin is as big as the Chinook.... Spectacular aircraft to fly, fully laden but mind blowing to fly when empty of pax and kit.

[Thud_and_Blunder]

It's the only helicopter I've operated with a max rate of climb limit (3000fpm, ISTR), apparently due to a 3-axis shuffle which developed during test-flying when that RoC was exceeded. As the aerodynamicists were unable to provide an explanation, a limitation was imposed.

As for the aircraft at Odiham decoupling on lifting to the hover (remember it well, it was on the first day of Chinook groundschool for my course) - at least the Chinook had fuel disconnect switches available in the cabin (as operated by the good Sqn Ldr as he departed the airframe). I believe that a CH53/ Sikorsky S65 variant that suffered a heavy landing which caused the disc to droop so far as to turn the cockpit into a cabriolet had no such feature, which meant that the aircraft had to be left turning and burning until the fuel supply was exhausted.

[Fareastdriver]

I didn't know about the Odiham Chinook probably because it wasn't fatal.

Mannheim was a result of the forward pinion bearing seizing which led to the transmission failing. Rumour has it that Elfinsafety stopped the overhaul team used 'dangerous' 3,000 p.s.i. to clear the oilways of the walnut grit used to clean them. Lower pressure didn't work as well so it eventually blocked it.

The Sumburgh on was where a solid gear was replaced with a lined one that could be overhauled more cheaply. Unfortunately it wasn't trialled over the North Sea so salt laden air got in and corroded the joint leading to a failure of the forward gearbox.

You can make helicopters 100% safe but then you get slammed by a bus on the way to work.

[212man]

Originally Posted by Thud_and_Blunder

As for the aircraft at Odiham decoupling on lifting to the hover (remember it well, it was on the first day of Chinook groundschool for my course) - at least the Chinook had fuel disconnect switches available in the cabin (as operated by the good Sqn Ldr as he departed the airframe). I believe that a CH53/ Sikorsky S65 variant that suffered a heavy landing which caused the disc to droop so far as to turn the cockpit into a cabriolet had no such feature, which meant that the aircraft had to be left turning and burning until the fuel supply was exhausted.

That was an S61 on a vessel in the East Shetland Basin - I think the tail wheel slipped off the deck (or they missed it) and the instinctive forward cyclic took the roof off. The pax and co-pilot stayed on the vessel and captain went and sat on the water until the fuel ran out. There are photos online of it (but can't find them)

[Gordy]

Originally Posted by Thud_and_Blunder

It's the only helicopter I've operated with a max rate of climb limit

The Bell 407 has a max rate of climb of 2,000 fpm.

[Ray_Y]

I would like to thank for this nice discussion.

Very nice Chinook background and hilarious content