Flight #: 024
CFI: Kristie H.
Aircraft: Robinson R22 Beta II
Aircraft ID: N7155W
Duration: 1.2hrs
Cumulative Time: 24.6hrs
Ok, so I already told you that aurorotations were incredibly cool maneuvers. They are. What's cooler? Well, rather than doing them at 2000AGL (above ground level), try them at 500ft AGL. WOW! All the same maneuvers, but this time you just have the ground coming up at you rather quickly. The engine is idle and the governor is inactive until you reach about 40ft AGL.
Man, my heart was pounding. But, after the 4th or 5th time, you start to get the feel of it all and if just comes to you. Which, is the point, of course. That day will come, when you need it for real... might as well be overly prepared for it when it happens.
There are different classifications of engine/power failures; >500ft AGL, <500>8ft AGL, and <8ft AGL. The first introduction at autorotations we did were at 2000ft AGL, this set was at just over 500ft.
Obviously, the lower you are, the less time you have to react.
1 comment:
Be careful about being too rigid in thinking about autos. Altitude is only one component, where you are relative to the H-V curve is probably more important. For example at 60' AGL and 60 KIAS, an auto is going to not be much diffrent than a Q-stop. On the other hand, 60' in an OGE hover is going to be a painful experience. Density altitude and winds are pretty important too.
Maybe the most important thing to remember is that airspeed can be traded for RRPM and vice versa. Just don't let yourself get on the low side of both!
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