Fear of Landing

JUNE 28, 2024

At about 50 meters (165 feet) above the ground, the pilot turned left, planning to fly over the grass runway as the start of his routing. Reducing the lift and decreasing the torque effect helped to stabilize the helicopter. They crashed into a field east of the runway, breaking the skids off.

Rudder 96

Rudder Tail Lift Knot 96

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

Northstar VFR

JULY 21, 2024

TAKEOFF We’ve been cleared for takeoff, and now you’re lined up on the centerline of the runway. Correct rudder use here is evident, because if you don’t apply right rudder you’ll see how quickly your plane wants to travel left and off the runway. As you approach to land, your eyes look down the centerline to the end of the runway.

Rudder 52

Rudder Airplanes Pilot Stability 52

Fear of Landing

APRIL 19, 2024

It shows the helicopter flying normally, aligned to the runway, and then begin a gentle climb. The pilot told the airport tower controller that he may need the runway. The controller asked the pilot to report when two miles out and to expect runway 28. It rotated several times before crashing into the grass north of runway 28.

Torque 76

Torque Indicated Airspeed Tail Knot 76

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 18, 2024

We would launch from the paved runway, retract the gear, and head out to one of the nearby waterways to practice takeoffs and landings. The airplane began to torque to the left, and I was just about to pull the power to idle before the left wing hit the nearby tree when the left float let go, and we jumped forward into deeper water.

Airplanes 76

Airplanes Tail Torque Pilot 76

Plane and Pilot

AUGUST 18, 2024

We would launch from the paved runway, retract the gear, and head out to one of the nearby waterways to practice takeoffs and landings. The airplane began to torque to the left, and I was just about to pull the power to idle before the left wing hit the nearby tree when the left float let go, and we jumped forward into deeper water.

Airplanes 74

Airplanes Tail Torque Pilot 74

Vintage Aviation News

SEPTEMBER 8, 2024

As soon as the weather gets right,’ because during the winter months down there, that runway gets soft. Once I knew the airplane inside and out, I just had to wait on the runway.” Photo via Johnny Mazza III “When I got to the end of the runway, I felt confident, but I literally went through everything three, four times.

Pilot 59

Pilot Airplanes Runway Cockpit 59