Fear of Landing

JUNE 28, 2024

In the event of an unintentional left yaw, the pilot must immediately apply right rudder, that is, firmly apply pressure on the right rudder pedal. The key is to respond swiftly and with rather more right rudder than might be expected from pilots without experience with Fenestron-equipped helicopters. The weather was clear.

Rudder 96

Rudder Tail Lift Knot 96

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 18, 2024

The weather had cleared after our arrival, offering warmer temperatures and occasional sunshine, which is rare for this part of Alaska in summer. The combination of poor weather and challenging terrain has led many a floatplane pilot to disaster. To put it mildly, it is a very risky maneuver. Back to the shore of Heckman Lake.

Airplanes 78

Airplanes Tail Torque Pilot 78

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 18, 2024

The weather had cleared after our arrival, offering warmer temperatures and occasional sunshine, which is rare for this part of Alaska in summer. The combination of poor weather and challenging terrain has led many a floatplane pilot to disaster. To put it mildly, it is a very risky maneuver. Back to the shore of Heckman Lake.

Airplanes 76

Airplanes Tail Torque Pilot 76

Photographic Logbook

SEPTEMBER 16, 2023

The chirping we heard was due to excess torque-related motion of the powerplant in the engine compartment. Ray later found that the nuts securing the remaining three mounts were insufficiently torqued by whomever mounted that engine before the Williamson Flying Club bought the airplane in 2021. It was undamaged, it just came apart.

Torque 52

Torque Airplanes Horizontal Stabilizer Clearance 52