Helicopter Question

On the ice subject, I recall one time starting the helicopter on some
slick ice and as soon as the main rotor began to turn, the helicopter
began to turn too...slipping on the ice!! Talk about scary?

Yikes!

I've landed on runways like that -- and it's just *not* a fun feeling to
suddenly be a passenger in your own plane.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay
I was landing at Appleton, WI one winter and on rollout the 421 began
to slew around. Brakes were useless and as I passed the 90deg point,
the tower says, "Caution - Black ice on all runways and taxiways.." I
ended up using differential power to get it stopped after turning 180
deg on the runway!!!
It was so slick on the ramp that I put down Kitty Litter near the
airstep door so my pax didn't slip and fall. Was too slick to hold
position while I tried to exercise the props before take-off. Nasty
ice.....

It was so slick on the ramp that I put down Kitty Litter near the
airstep door so my pax didn't slip and fall. Was too slick to hold
position while I tried to exercise the props before take-off. Nasty
ice.....

We get that fairly often in the Midwest. Today while doing our run-up, we
just started sliding along the taxiway toward the runway, with the brakes
locked on.

You get used to it.

:-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay wrote:
On the ice subject, I recall one time starting the helicopter on some
slick ice and as soon as the main rotor began to turn, the helicopter
began to turn too...slipping on the ice!! Talk about scary?

Yikes!

I've landed on runways like that -- and it's just *not* a fun feeling
to
suddenly be a passenger in your own plane.


This happens w/ helis on floats too.