Comments
This Page was created
May 19th, 1999
.
Comments
This Page was created
May 19th, 1999
.
..............
Let me start by saying that I am no expert, do not have a helicopter license, am not suggesting that the XYZ-500 has been marketed honestly, or is a quality kit. I do have hundreds of hours flying behind 2 stroke engines in light airplanes and gyro planes.
I have read almost everything on your web page and find it hard to imagine that you so readily excuse some of the obvious bad judgment by pilots that is reported on your web page. In Allen B's case, I read earlier that some one speculated that he had to trade rotor RPM for altitude in order to clear/miss some power lines, I know this is speculation, but what was he doing flying where if his engine quit he had to dodge some power lines?
It has been long assumed in the ultralight / light plane world that when flying behind two stroke power assume your engine will quit, and fly accordingly. This is why you rarely see ultralights flying over populated areas, because like the TV report you recently published, if you engine quits over a school you will have to land on the school (duh).
In the beginning of our flying careers, we are told to fly like our engine will quit, but over time that fear seems to fade and we naturally start to get confident that it wont.
The manufacturer of the engine used in this helicopter states that it is prone to sudden stoppage, and yet for some reason, we seem shocked and even angry that this happens too often in this helicopter.
If your engine quits and you have to dodge some power lines at take
off, land in some trees, land on a school, you should not have been flying
there in the first place. If your engine quits and you are well within
the H/V curve and you initiate an autorotation to the open ground below
you, and are prepared for the landing because you insisted that you get
instruction in auto's all the
way to the ground when you were getting your license, you may land
with a load in your shorts but you are alive. AN ENGINE STOPPAGE
ALONE DOES NOT PUT YOUR LIFE AT RISK!
These light two stroke powered helicopters are not certified machines
and CANNOT be flown like they are, this may be where some high time pilots
are actually at a disadvantage because
they have flown thousands of hours without a complete and sudden engine
failure. Helicopters by their very nature, invite us to fly where
we are in the most danger, to be truly safe (from engine failure) they
need to be flown from large open areas (airports) where you can be at a
thousand or so feet before you get over any trees. If we fly
like this we might as well be in an airplane, but it is the safe way to
fly any helicopter.
The XYZ-500 has been marketed to be flown in an unsafe manner, it has
many other problems besides sudden engine stoppage, I believe it is not
safe in many ways and would never recommend any one buy one or fly one.
I will state once more that the manufacturer of the
engine states that this engine is prone to sudden stoppage, if you
do not believe this and fly accordingly you are putting yourself in danger.
Feel free to put this on your web page, but this e-mail may only be posted in its entirety by anyone wishing to use its contents. I really enjoy your web page and my $1 is on the way.
SHnPGIE's 2 cents on the above:
I fly a similar helicopter (CH-7 Angel) with the exact same power plant, however, this craft with the same power plant I am happy to report that the CH-7 Angel has almost the exactly opposite a reputation as the xyz5oo does.
Naturally I do not fly my trusty craft IFR or even VFR, I fly it IFOF (I Fly Over Fields) n as I said, it has a good reputation. However, even thoe the above mentioned craft is a clone of my CH-7 Angel, it is different enough that that it's reliability is questionable at best.
Yes, if Al had an clear approach to an LZ when his power plant failed, things would have possibly been different, or if his craft was manufactured n tested more responsibly and professionally before being offered to the trusting public, most likely things would have been different, or if I was born handsome to rich parents along with having a 1o inch member, things would be different for me too, but they aren't. We all gotta play the cards we were dealt or the ones we deal to to our self's due to our actions/decisions.
So, YES, in the end it will probably be written up as "Pilot Error", BUT I am sure you will agree, the beginning has always had a lot to do with the end............. In this case, it is clearly obvious to almost every one that a poor beginning caused a tragic end, even for the BEST of pilots. I personally would be happy to be able to consider my self 10% of the pilot Al was but I honestly don't think I am there yet...............
Glenn Ryerson, Host of SHnPGIE
Your 2 cents (comment) are welcome here, all comments are welcome except for the manufacture of the above kit helicopter. Due to HIS ACTIONS, I have no respect for him n prefer to never see of hear from him again. I know in the end he n I are going in opposite directions, so............
FYI: Not wanting to take the chance of inhaling in the same molecules of air he exhaled was the largest single reason I didn't take my Angel to SnF 99 an fly the hell out of her with a 4 sale sign on her side, I don't want/need to sell her that bad n I do want/need to never see him again that bad.
