Thread: Actual Autos
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Old April 22nd 07, 06:44 PM posted to rec.aviation.rotorcraft
Steve R
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Posts: 34
Default Actual Autos

Well, I'm not a rated pilot so I've not done any emergency autorotations
myself but someone once told a story on this newsgroup that's always stuck
in my head because I got such a kick out of reading it at the time. This
comes from a LONG time ago but basically, this person was sitting in the
local airport office, chewing the fat with the receptionist. They were
listening to the unicom frequency in the backgroud. There was a helicopter
student flying around the local area on his first unsupervised solo flight.
He was heading back to the airport after about an hour and keyed up the
radio to anounce his approach to the local traffic pattern. The
transmission went something like this.

"Such & such airport, this is helicopter N1234C inbound from the south,
lan..... OH ****, rpm, rpm, rpm, rpm, rpm, flare, flare, flare, level,
level, cushion, cushion, cushion............OH MY GOD, I DID IT!!!

The guy never released the push to talk switch when the engine burped and
they got to listen to him talk himself through the ensuing autorotation. He
landed in a clearing just off the airport property and didn't put a scratch
in the bird. Airport personnel went out and picked him up, made
arrangements to have the aircraft transported and the student pilot bought
the first round of beers at the pub afterwards. I don't remember the
original poster commenting on why the engine quit but I always have to grin
when I remember that one.

FWIW!
Fly Safe,
Steve R.
"Ol Shy & Bashful" wrote in message
oups.com...
Besides the autorotations done in and for training pruposes, how many
of you have had to do an unplanned auto as in engine failure,
mechanical failure, or other in flight difficulties?
I've had at least five over the past 40 years just while doing aerial
application in Bell and Hiller helicopters.
Just a curious question for a Sunday morning.....
Rocky