Leave helicopter rotor running

[megan]

how many of you guys can recall a JetA1 fuelled machine catching fire while hot refuelling

As AC says

Assess the risk, do the job if the risk is low enough to warrant it. For the risk-averse, there is a nice safe office job in the government somewhere

UH-1C tail number 65-09442 - THE PURPOSE OF THE TEST FLIGHT WAS THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE MAIN ROTOR PITCH CHANGE LINK. HE HAD FLOWN FOR APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES AND DETERMINED THE PITCH CHANGE LINK WAS PROPERLY ADJUSTED. HE HOVERED TO THE REFUELING STRIP. THE AIRCRAFT HAD APPROXIMATELY 600 LBS. OF FUEL. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SET DOWN AND THE DOORS WERE OPENED, THE RPM WAS MAINTAINED AT 6600. THE CREW CHIEF BEGAN THE REFUELING PROCEDURE. THE PROPER PROCEDURES WERE FOLLOWED EXCEPT THE AIRCRAFT WASN'T GROUNDED BECAUSE THERE WERE NO GROUNDING WIRES AT THE PUMP, AND THE CREW CHIEF COULD NOT REFUEL WITH HIS VISOR DOWN BECAUSE IT WAS THE TINTED TYPE AND HE COULD NOT SEE BECAUSE IT WAS DARK. THE PILOT WAS GOING TO SIGNAL THE CREW CHIEF THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS REFUELED BY TURNING HIS NAVIGATION LIGHTS FROM STEADY BRIGHT TO OFF, THEN BACK ON AGAIN. AS THE FUEL GAUGE REACHED 1400 LBS. THE PILOT GAVE THE SIGNAL. WITHIN A FEW SECONDS OF THE SIGNAL THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS CONCENTRATED AROUND THE FUEL PART AND DOWN THE LEFT SIDE OF THE HELICOPTER, IT SPREAD ONTO THE GROUND AND THE REFUELING HOSE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED WITHIN 6 MINUTES BY THE AIRFIELD CRASH CREW

A rare event, but undertaken safely if the necessary precautions are taken. Never saw a helo refuelled while shut down in Vietnam, it was always hot refuelling, seeing a line of mortars walking down the POL line was one incentive. Was not aware of any untoward events until reading this report today.

[scoutah1]

Originally Posted by Iron Duke

Many years ago I flew helicopters (B206, AS350) and we were allowed to leave the seat when :

1. The engine was at idle
2. Weather conditions were suitable
3. collective friction/lock was on
4. Cyclic friction on
5. and not mentioned above .. HYDRAULICS OFF ( due possible runaway)

I. Duke

In the AAC 60s 70s when carrying out casevac with Sioux it was practised to leave the aircraft, rotors turning, and heave the "casualty" (logs in a growbag) into the stretcher pods. Never did it for real I am pleased to say.

[rottenjohn]

Originally Posted by esa-aardvark

Asleep at the controls.

Back in NZ helicopters (lots of them) were used to blow freezing fog
away from the grapes. One night some guy fell asleep and got a long
way towards Wellington. Could have ended very badly.

Rubbish, would never happen.

[Ascend Charlie]

Sounds like an urban myth.

Fall asleep while puttering along below translational at 30' and you just might wake up in Wellington................hospital.