R44 Emergancy Procidures

Question 1

Power failure general

Answer 1

1. A power failure may be caused by either an engine or drive system failure and will usually be indicated by the low RPM horn.
2. An engine failure may be indicated by a change in noise level, nose left yaw, OIL pressure light, or decreasing engine RPM
3. A drive system failure may be indicated by an unusual noise or vibration, nose right or left yaw, or decreasing rotor RPM while engine RPM is increasing
4. Allow airspeed to reduce to power-off VNE or below

Question 2

Power failure above 500 feet AGL

Answer 2

1. Lower collective immediately to maintain RPM and enter normal autorotation.
2. Establish a steady glide at approximately 70 KIAS (see maximum glide distance configuration page 3-3)
3. Adjust collective to keep RPM in green arc or apply full down collective if light weight prevents attaining above 97%
4. Select a landing spot and, if altitude permits, maneuver so landing will be into wind.
5. A restart may be attempted at pilots discretion if sufficient time is available.
6. If unable to restart, turn off unnecessary switches and shut fuel off.
7. At about 40 feet AGL, begin cyclic flair to reduce rate of descent and forward airspeed.
8. At about 8 feet AGL, apply forward cyclic to level ship and raise collective just before touchdown to cushion landing. Touch down in level attitude with nose straight ahead
   NOTE:
   If power failure occurs at night, do not turn on landing lights above 1000 feet AGL to preserve battery power.

Question 3

Power failure between 8 feet and 500 feet AGL

Answer 3

1. Takeoff operation should be conducted per height velocity diagram section 5.
2. If power failure occurs, lower collective immediately to maintain rotor RPM
3. Adjust collective to keep RPM in green arc or apply full down collective if light weight prevents attaining above 97%
4. Maintain airspeed until ground is approached, then begin flare to reduce rate of descent and forward airspeed.
5. At about 8 feet AGL, apply forward cyclic to level ship and raise collective just before touchdown to cushion landing. Touchdown with skids level and nose straight ahead.

Question 4

Power failure below 8 feet AGL

Answer 4

1. Apply right pedal as required to prevent yawing.
2. Allow rotorcraft to settle.
3. Raise collective just before touchdown to cushion landing.

Question 5

Maximum glide distance configuration

Answer 5

1. Airspeed approximately 90 KIAS
2. Rotor RPM approximately 90%
3. Best glide ratio is about 4.7:1 or one nautical mile per 1300 feet AGL

Question 6

Minimum rate of descent configuration

Answer 6

1. Airspeed approximately 55 KIAS
2. Rotor RPM approximately 90%
3. Minimum rate of descent is about 1350 feet per minute. Glide ratio is 4:1 or one nautical mile per 1500 feet AGL
   CAUTION:
   Increase rotor RPM to 97% minimum when autorotating below 500 feet AGL

Question 7

Air restart procedure

Answer 7

CAUTION:
Do not attempt restart if engine malfunction is suspected or before safe autorotation is established. Air restarts not recommend below 2000 feet AGL
1. Mixture - off
2. Throttle - closed
3. Starter - engaged
4. Mixture - move slowly to rich while cranking

Question 8

Ditching - power off

Answer 8

1. Follow same procedures as for power failure over land until contacting water
2. Apply lateral cyclic when aircraft contacts water to stop blades from rotating
3. Release seat belt and quickly clear aircraft when blades stop rotating

Question 9

Ditching - power on

Answer 9

1. Decent to a hover above water
2. Unlatch doors
3. Passengers exit aircraft
4. Fly to safe distance from passengers to avoid possible injury by blades
5. Switch off battery and alternator
6. Roll throttle off into detent spring
7. Keep aircraft level and apply full collective as aircraft contacts water
8. Apply lateral cyclic to stop blades from rotating
9. Release seat belt and quickly clear aircraft when blades stop rotating

Question 10

Loss of tail rotor thrust during forward flight

Answer 10

1. Failure is usually indicated by nose right yaw which cannot be corrected by applying left pedal.
2. Immediately enter autorotation
3. Maintain at least 70 KIAS if practical
4. Select landing site, roll throttle into detent spring, and perform autorotation landing.
   NOTE:
   When a suitable landing site is not available, the vertical fin may permit limited control flight at low power settings and airspeeds above 70 KIAS; however, prior to reducing airspeed, re-enter full autorotation

Question 11

Loss of tail rotor thrust during hover

Answer 11

1. Failure is usually indicated by right yaw which cannot be corrected by applying left pedal.
2. Immediately roll throttle into detent spring and allow aircraft to settle.
3. Raise collective just before touchdown to cushion landing

Question 12

Engine fire during start on ground

Answer 12

1. Cranking - continue and attempt to start which would suck flames and excess fuel into engine.
2. If engine starts, run at 60 to 70% RPM for a short time, shutdown, and inspect for damage.
3. If engine fails to start, shut off fuel and master battery switch.
4. Extinguish fire with fire extinguisher, wool blanket, or dirt.
5. Inspect for damage.

Question 13

Fire in flight

Answer 13

1. Enter autorotation
2. Master battery switch - off if time permits
3. Cabin heat - off (if time permits)
4. Cabin vent - on (if time permits)
5. If engine is running, perform normal landing and immediately shut off fuel valve.
6. If engine stops running, shut off fuel valve and execute autorotation landing as described on pages 3-1 and 3-2

Question 14

Electric fire in flight

Answer 14

1. Master battery switch - off
2. Alt switch - off
3. Land immediately
4. Extinguish fire and inspect for damage
   CAUTION:
   Low RPM warning system and governor are inoperative with master battery and alternator switches both off.

Question 15

Tachometer failure

Answer 15

1. If rotor engine tach malfunctions in flight, use remaining tach to monitor RPM. If it is not clear which tach is malfunctioning or if both tacos malfunction, allow governor to control RPM and land as soon as practical.
   NOTE:
   Each tach, the governor, and the low RPM warning horn are on separate circuits. A special circuit allows the battery to supply power to the tacos even if the master battery and alternator switches are both off

Question 16

Hydraulic system failure

Answer 16

Hydraulic system failure is indicated by heavy or stiff cyclic and collective controls. Loss of hydraulic fluid may cause intermittent and or vibrating feedback in controls. Controls will be normal except for the increase in stick forces.

1. Adjust airspeed and flight condition as desired for comfortable control.
2. HYD switch - verify On
3. If hydraulics not restored, HYD switch Off
4. Land as soon as practical

Question 17

Governor failure

Answer 17

If engine RPM governor malfunctions, grip throttle firmly to override the governor, then switch governor off. Complete flight using manual throttle control.

Question 18

Warning/caution lights

Oil light

Answer 18

Oil:
Indicates loss of engine power or oil pressure. Check engine tach for power loss. Check oil pressure gauge and, if pressure loss is confirmed, land immediately. Continued operation without oil pressure will cause serious engine damage and engine failure may occurs.

Question 19

Warning/caution lights

Engine fire

Answer 19

Indicates possible fire in engine compartment. See procedure on 3-6

Question 20

Warning/caution lights
MR temp
MR chip
TR chip

Answer 20

MR Temp:
- indicates excessive temperature of main rotor gearbox see. note below.
MR chip:
- indicates metallic particles in main rotor gearbox. See note below.
TR chip:
- indicates metallic particles in tail rotor gearbox. See note below.
NOTE:
- If light is accompanied by any indication of a problem such as noise, vibration, or temperature rise, land immediately. If there is no other indication of a problem land as soon as practical.
- break-in fuzz will occasionally activate chip lights. If no metal chips or slivers are found on detector plug, clean and reinstall (tail rotor gearbox must be refilled with new oil). Hover for at least 30 minutes. If chip light comes on again, replace gearbox before further flight.

Question 21

Warning/caution lights

Low fuel

Answer 21

Indicates approximately three gallons of usable fuel remaining. The engine will run out of fuel after 10 minutes at cruise power.
CAUTION:
Do not use low fuel light as a working indication of fuel quantity.

Question 22

Warning/caution lights

AUX fuel pump

Answer 22

Indicates low auxiliary fuel pump pressure. If no other indication of a problem, land as soon as practical. If light is accompanied by erratic engine operation, land immediately.

Question 23

Warning/caution lights

Fuel filter

Answer 23

Indicates fuel strainer contamination. If no other indication of a problem, land as soon as practical. If light is accompanied by aux fuel pump warning light or erratic engine operation, land immediately.

Question 24

Warning/caution lights

Clutch

Answer 24

Indicates clutch actuator circuit is on, either engaging or disengaging clutch. When switch is in the engaged position, light stays on until belts are properly tensioned. Never take off before light goes out.
NOTE:
- clutch light may come on momentarily during run-up or during flight to retention belts as the warm-up and stretch slightly. This is normal. If however, the light flickers or comes on in flight and does not go out within 10 seconds, pull clutch circuit breaker and land as soon as practical. Reduce power and land immediately if there are other indications of drive system failure (be prepared to enter autorotation). Inspect drive system for a possible malfunction.

Question 25

Warning/caution lights

ALT

Answer 25

Indicates low voltage and possible alternator failure. Turn off nonessential electrical equipment and switch ALT off then back on after one second to reset over voltage relay. If light stays on land as soon as practical. Continued flight without functioning alternator can result in loss of electronic tachometer, producing a hazardous flight condition.

Question 26

Warning/caution lights

Brake

Answer 26

Indicates rotor brake is engaged. Release immediately in flight or before starting engine.

Question 27

Warning/caution lights

Starter-on

Answer 27

Indicates starter motor is engaged. If light does not go out when starter button is released, immediately pull mixture to idle cut-off and turn master switch off. Have starter motor serviced.

Question 28

Warning/caution lights

Gov off

Answer 28

Indicates engine rpm governor is off

Question 29

Warning/caution lights

Carbon monoxide

Answer 29

Indicates elevated levels of carbon monoxide (CO) in cabin. Open nose and door vents and shut off heater. If hovering, transition to forward flight. If systems of CO poisoning (headache, drowsiness, dizziness) accompany light, land immediately.

Question 30

Warning/caution lights

Low RPM horn and caution light

Answer 30

A horn and illuminated caution light indicate that rotor RPM may be below safe limits. To restore RPM, immediately roll throttle on, lower collective and, in forward flight apply aft cyclic. The horn and caution light are disabled when collective is full down.

Question 31

Definitions
Land immediately
Land as soon as practical

Answer 31

Land immediately:
- land on the nearest clear area where a safe normal landing can be performed. Be prepared to enter autorotation during approach, if required.
Land as soon as practical:
- land at the nearest airport or other facility where emergency maintenance may be performed

Question 32

Abnormal vibrations

Answer 32

High frequency 
- associated with TR
- felt in pedals
Medium frequency 
- associated with engine
- felt in seat
Low frequency 
- associated with MR
- felt in cyclic and collective