AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2017 - 76
THE UPSET RECOVERY program
was developed by Chuck
Aaron (opposite page, on
left) and Kevin Bredenbeck
and includes unique upset
and emergency maneuvering
in both visual and simulated
instrument conditions.
A white paper issued jointly by the
Helicopter Association International,
the General Aviation Manufacturers
Association, the American Helicopter
Society International, and the Aircraft
Electronics Association in June 2015
indicates the seriousness of the lossof-control problem in the rotorcraft
industry. Between 2001 and 2013 there
were 248 helicopter accidents resulting
from inadvertent entry into instrument
meteorological conditions (IMC) and
controlled flight into terrain (CFIT)
while attempting to avoid weather at
low altitude. The majority of these were
fatal-truly alarming statistics, considering the relatively small population of
helicopters.
76 | AOPA PILOT April 2017
Helicopters are at much greater risk
of inadvertent entry into IMC, and departure from controlled flight, because they
fly so low (typically 200 to 500 feet agl)
and in visibility much less than is allowed
for fixed-wing pilots. The aircraft often
fly at night and frequently over inhospitable terrain. This is especially true for first
responders-those who fly helicopters for
law enforcement agencies, fire departments, and emergency medical services.
Not reflected in the accident data are
the near misses of obstacles and terrain
that occurred while attempting to avoid
weather, or the near losses of control that
occurred while attempting to exit IMC.
Although half of the pilots involved
in the accidents cited in the white paper
were instrument rated, they were almost
as susceptible to upset as those without
instrument training. This is because helicopter pilots seldom fly IFR and typically
do not maintain instrument currency to
anywhere near the level that fixed-wing
pilots do. And maintaining instrument
skills by flying a helicopter under a hood is
impractical because the pilot sits in a large
glass bubble, and a conventional hood is
ineffective in preventing him from seeing
outside. Furthermore, many small helicopters are not certificated for IFR flight. It is
not surprising, therefore, that loss-of-control accidents account for more helicopter
fatalities than any other cause.
Inadvertent entry into IMC at such low
altitudes can be a shock to the psyche, and
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2017
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202111
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202108
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aopa/pilot_202106
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