Thread
:
Pop out floats on a 206BIII
View Single Post
#
6
August 31st 03, 07:01 PM
Stan Gosnell
external usenet poster
Posts: n/a
(Rhodesst) wrote in
:
The helicopter sits much lower in the water, relative to the floats,
than I would have thought. While the water conditions aren't that
rough compared to what San Fransisco Bay is capable of, there is some
wave action and the Jet Ranger looks like it's sitting there just
fine.
The floats are on top of the skids, & inflate up to the doors, so it sits
lower than it does on the ground. This is essential, since the CG is still
pretty high, & the helicopter is rather unstable in the water. It rolls
fairly easily.
The "vast" majority of emergency autorotations (I'm assuming that's
what this was?) that I've seen on the news over the past 20 years
ended in a roll over, seperation of the tail boom, or some other
significant damage to the aircraft whether there were any injuries or
not. This Jet Ranger looks to be completely intact. Cudo's to the
pilot!
Soft autos to the water are easier than to the ground. Properly done,
during an auto to the water it's difficult to feel when you touch down.
There may be a big splash, but you don't feel the impact that much, because
the floats absorb the impact more slowly, and the water parts as you go in.
I've done innumerable practice autos to the water on fixed floats, & it's a
lot of fun, much easier to do than on skids on concrete. If the seas are
up, though, you'd better get out, because the thing will turn turtle in a
heartbeat. We've had lots of cases of engine failure in which the pilot
put the helicopter in the water with no damage at all, but the helicopter
was almost destroyed during the salvage attempt.
--
Regards,
Stan
Stan Gosnell