Fear of Landing

JUNE 28, 2024

The weather was clear. The flight plan referenced the current weather, specifically noting a westerly wind at 15 knots at 5,000 feet above mean sea level, with gusts up to 25 knots at higher altitudes. Reducing the lift and decreasing the torque effect helped to stabilize the helicopter.

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 Clearance Horizontal Stabilizer 52

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 weather had cleared after our arrival, offering warmer temperatures and occasional sunshine, which is rare for this part of Alaska in summer. To put it mildly, it is a very risky maneuver.

Airplanes 78

Airplanes Tail Torque Pilot 78

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 weather had cleared after our arrival, offering warmer temperatures and occasional sunshine, which is rare for this part of Alaska in summer. To put it mildly, it is a very risky maneuver.

Airplanes 76

Airplanes Tail Torque Pilot 76

Vintage Aviation News

SEPTEMBER 8, 2024

On September 23, 1953, ‘827 and 41 other aircraft were nearly lost when they were launched into marginal weather conditions at 1330hrs. 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.”

Pilot 105

Pilot Airplanes Runway Cockpit 105