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Mast Bumping

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2025 2:39 pm
by Colonel
Bueller? Bueller?

Re: Mast Bumping

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2025 4:55 pm
by Nark
Very scary .


That’s why I chose to fly fully articulated hubs.

Re: Mast Bumping

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2025 6:03 pm
by Scudrunner
I like choppers but that’s a lot of moving parts

Re: Mast Bumping

Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2025 9:40 pm
by Nark
I flew the jetranger. If I recall we had a limitation no maneuvers below 1g, for mast bumping protection.

I’m not saying I have any insight: but a hard nose over (say to avoid something?) unload the rotor, mast bumb, and boom: there goes the main rotor and probably tailboom from contact.

Re: Mast Bumping

Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2025 8:49 pm
by Nark
The NYC crash was definitely not a result of mast bumping as evidence of this pic:
IMG_3175.png
The whole transmission ripped from the roof.
Stress fractures/ corrosion issues.


When it’s your time, it’s your time.

Damn.

Re: Mast Bumping

Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2025 12:36 pm
by Colonel
The aircraft suffered structural failure?

Well, that’s not good. I understand it had 10,000TT?

Weird how the FAA is all over airframe structural replacement in high time fixed-wing aircraft (like the 400 series Cessna) but not on this?

Re: Mast Bumping

Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2025 11:35 pm
by Slick Goodlin
On the list of flying machines that I wouldn’t want to suddenly have a sunroof, all helicopters are probably tied for first place.

Re: Mast Bumping

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 2025 2:17 pm
by Colonel
I have spent thousands of hours sitting on parachutes and will continue to do so, but I don’t think this would have helped the pilot in this case - not much time/altitude to get out.

Pax might not like the sight of the pilot exiting, but they could probably get a refund?

PS even jumper dumping, you are foolish as a pilot to not wear a parachute. No aerobatics involved, but if someone fouls the tail, it’s time to go.