Friday
Oct302009
Video Of Border Patrol MD600 Helicopter Auto-Hard Landing.
Friday, October 30, 2009 at 07:17AM On Oct. 15th I posted an article about a hard landing suffered by a Border Patrol MD600 Helicopter during a simulated auto-rotation. At the time the helicopter was being operated by a factory CFI with a senior BP pilot also in the cockpit. The training was being video taped by other BP pilots on the ground, because of their concern that the MD600 exhibits less than adequate auto-rotational capabilities.
PHP.com has obtained a copy of the video.
Also, as I stated in the original post, I have personally received emergency procedures training from the same CFI on several occassions and can attest to his professionalism, outstanding skill level, and expert knowledge of all things helicopters. You be the judge.
Reader Comments (1)
Wow...that looked like a combo of errors...the way the thing fell out of the sky, it almost mimicked a tail-wind landing, but being that this was at a Manned Tower Airfield, I can assume that wasnt the case. After the 2nd viewing, I am convinced that the Pilot chose a FAR too nose down attitude when entering his turn...this accelerated him toward his intended touchdown point, in a turn/Left skid low/smoking hot approach attitude...once he saw what he had down, he no longer had the altitude to flare and decel. I think it has nothing to do the the Aircraft, all AC's of its type with no stored Rotor energy during autos (Md's,KiowaWarriors,etc) can still be saved provide you have the right sight picture towards termination, and dont bleed off rotor RPM doing something stupid. Way to bang up a brand new bird...guess they got to see if their intertia reels and attenuating seats worked!