Just went to the 206 Bell factory refresher course at Alliance in Fort Worth
and all the autos were to touchdown, no power recoverys.
Also did about every kind of failure I can imagine and others I never
thought of. Even did such things as high and low end governor failure only
on a simulator. Its a hoot to try to maintain control in a simulated
shortshaft failure -- gives you no power to the main rotor and full power to
the tail rotor with the governor going nuts up and down because it can't
follow the load properly.
Gaylon
"John?] "
wrote in message
. net...

I have posted this before, but in 20 years of flying Army rotorcraft
including some time pushing students as an IP at Mother Rucker, I
watched the Army seesaw on this issue time and time again. Were it not
so sad, it would be comical.

They had a few accidents during annual checkrides out in the field and
some pencil pusher said "OMG, we have to stop this waste of assets;
let's prohibit touchdown autos except for initial entry training."

After a year or two there would be a rash of accidents caused by the
inability of pilots in the field to do a simple touchdown auto under
perfect conditions and some genius would say, "Training...that's
it...that's the answer" and touchdown autos on annual checkrides would
return. Then there would be a few accidents on annual checkrides and
some genius would say, "OMG..."

I saw the cycle repeat itself at least three times in 20 years. Sad to
say, it cost the lives of some terrific people.

The policy will change back within five years but that will be too late
for some good pilots.

John






In article , Don W
wrote:

Seems like a bad idea to have instructors that have not
actually demonstrated a spin (for airplanes), or a touchdown
auto (heli's). I went to talk by the founder of Silver
State helicopters, and he mentioned that they had wrecked
two R-22s in one week practicing touchdown auto's when the
outside air temperature was hot, and the density altitude
was high. It could be that the FAA is responding to
pressure from the flight schools that touchdown autos are
too dangerous to their equipment.

Don W.

Ol Shy & Bashful wrote:
Now that touchdown autorotations are no longer required or even
demonstrated for CFI applicants, nor are FAA inspectors going to do
them, is the general proficiency for autorotations going down the
tubes
by FAA mandate?
I seeeee.......a new CFI isn't required to show any-ANY proficiency in
a full on auto so they will be unable to teach something that has the
FAA scared to death. How is that going to bode for new helicopter
pilots? Hmmmmm?
A new batch of helicopter pilots that are not able to do some of the
most important and perhaps critical flight manuevers and yet are going
to be hauling unwitting and unsuspecting passengers.
Is there something wrong with this picture? Does it rank right in
there
with only demonstrating an approach to a spin without actually
experiencing one and then go teach the same flawed philosophy?
I can see lots of tailbooms being chopped off in the next couple
years...
Comments anyone?
Rocky