Bell Helicopter Autorotation Landing (safely)

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My understanding is that "autorotation" means using no engine power, just using the wind draft as the aircraft drops to the ground.

 
That pilot had some serious skills, that is super hard to do in a rotor craft.
At least he still had engine power, if he needed to throttle up, must have been a training test.
 
Years ago, I was told it's done by keeping a low angle of attack on the rotor blades until just before ground contact, then pull up (increase angle of attack quickly), creating enough lift to land "safely". -In the event of engine failure/or something that prevents a running engine from transmitting power.
 
My wife has an uncle who rode one down into the ocean for real. Nobody injured. His saying was “above 5000 feet the aircraft belongs to the Navy, below 5000 feet the aircraft belongs to the family”.
 
Mike69cuda said:
My wife has an uncle who rode one down into the ocean for real. Nobody injured. His saying was “above 5000 feet the aircraft belongs to the Navy, below 5000 feet the aircraft belongs to the family”.
Click to expand...
I have a co-worker that is Navy retired, he said he has been in 5 rotor wing crashes, and one fixed wing crash.
He would take crashing in a rotor wing any day over a fixed wing, because it happens slower.
 
Tail rotor failure, thats when things happen.
My buddy is a heli pilot. Flies to the oil rigs in africa.
Just recently started flying twin engine helicopters. Been in aviation for many years. Tells us stories about training. Mostly in simulators now.
Apparently breaking a simulator is frowned upon...
 
I have done a gazillion of autos in a 206. They auto pretty nice actually. Its all about the inertia in the rotor system. A 407(OH58-D), not as nice. At least loaded up like we were. Flying Hueys in Afghanistan right now. They auto fine as well.
 
Yes, engine failure in fixed wing or helicopters, prefer helicopters. can put them down in a much smaller spot, small fields, parking lots. Even in trees, airplane are going to hit them a 70 + mph, in helicopters you can come to a stop over the trees and settle down through the canopy or hold the flare and come down tail first, having the tailboom act as a plumb bob, spreading the trees and slowing the decent.
 
I experienced a auto rotation while going for a ride in a chopper. My friends dad asked the pilot what happens if you loose power. The pilot (who we both knew) reached over and shut it off and maneuvered the stick and landed. I didn't realize what happened until he restarted the engine.
 
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