Fatal Traps for Helicopter Pilots

Overview

Acquire the Life-Saving Skills Needed to Eliminate or Reduce Most Helicopter Accidents

A vital resource for pilots, helicopter enthusiasts, and aircraft maintenance technicians, Fatal Traps for Helicopter Pilots analyzes all aspects of helicopter accidents, including flight basics, engineering, meteorology, flight training, and human factors. This life-saving guide shows how proper preparation can help prevent accidents by addressing causes such as aerodynamic problems, mechanical failures, poor loading, mid-air collisions, and more.

Filled with case studies and first-hand accounts of accidents, the book organizes accident types by primary causes, presenting proven methods for eliminating or reducing the possibility of each type. Greg Whyte, an ex commercial helicopter pilot and professional aviation writer, draws on his own flying experiences and those of other flight veterans to provide a wealth of practical information and safety tips that are essential for everyone who flies, maintains or crews in helicopters. Filled with over 100 helpful illustrations, Fatal Traps for Helicopter Pilots enables readers to:

• Identify and address the common causes of helicopter accidents
• Explore in-depth examples of accident scenarios
• Examine the technical details of accident causes
• Review case studies and first-hand accounts of accidents
• Learn from the plain-English notes on avoidance and recovery

Inside This Aviation Accident-Prevention Guide

• Basic Flight Principles • Vortex Ring State • Recirculation • Ground Resonance • Retreating Blade Stall • Dynamic Rollover • Overpitching • Main Rotor Strikes • Mid-Air Collisions • Mast Bumping • Engine Failures • Tail Rotor Failures • Mechanical Failures • Fuel • Fire • Ditching • Loading Issues • Winching • Weather • Crew and Pre-flight Hazards • Human Factors • Training Mishaps

Table of contents

Acknowledgments
Foreword
Introduction
Chapter 1. Basic Flight Principles
Chapter 2. Vortex Ring State
Chapter 3. Recirculation
Chapter 4. Ground Resonance
Chapter 5. Retreating Blade Stall
Chapter 6. Dynamic Rollover
Chapter 7. Overpitching
Chapter 8. Main Rotor Strikes
Chapter 9. Mid-Air Collisions
Chapter 10. Mast Bumping
Chapter 11. Engine Failures
Chapter 12. Tail Rotor Failures
Chapter 13. Mechanical Failures
Chapter 14. Fuel
Chapter 15. Fire
Chapter 16. Ditching
Chapter 17. Loading Issues
Chapter 18. Winching
Chapter 19. Weather
Chapter 20. Crew and Pre-flight Hazards
Chapter 21. Human Factors
Chapter 22. Training Mishaps
Further Reading
Index

Biographical note

Greg Whyte is an ex-helicopter pilot and professional aviation writer.

Back cover copy

ACQUIRE THE LIFE-SAVING SKILLS NEEDED TO ELIMINATE OR REDUCE MOST HELICOPTER ACCIDENTS

A vital resource for pilots, helicopter enthusiasts, and aircraft maintenance technicians, Fatal Traps for Helicopter Pilots analyzes all aspects of helicopter accidents, including flight basics, engineering, meteorology, flight training, and human factors. This life-saving guide shows how proper preparation can help prevent accidents by addressing causes such as aerodynamic problems, mechanical failures, poor loading, mid-air collisions, and more.

Filled with case studies and first-hand accounts of accidents, the book organizes accident types by primary causes, presenting proven methods for eliminating or reducing the possibility of each type. Greg Whyte, an experienced commercial helicopter pilot and professional aviation writer, draws on his own flying experiences and those of other flight veterans to provide a wealth of practical information and safety tips that enables readers to:
Identify and address the common causes of helicopter accidents
Explore in-depth examples of accident scenarios
Examine the technical details of accident causes
Review case studies and first-hand accounts of accidents
Learn from the plain-English notes on avoidance and recovery

Inside This Aviation Accident-Prevention Guide:
* Basic Flight Principles * Vortex Ring State * Recirculation * Ground Resonance * Retreating Blade Stall * Dynamic Rollover * Overpitching * Main Rotor Strikes * Mid-Air Collisions * Mast Bumping * Engine Failures * Tail Rotor Failures * Mechanical Failures * Fuel * Fire * Ditching * Loading Issues * Winching * Weather * Crew and Pre-flight Hazards * Human Factors * Training Mishaps