Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
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Help Your DAR Help You.
As this is my blog, I want to talk about a few observations I have noticed lately, but I will keep it on point so as not to go on a rant.
A while back I received my designation from the FAA as a DAR-T. The issue I am seeing is, I [...]
Back in the early 80s when the offshore oil business was dying out on the California Coast the new rage for the Helicopter industry was the tuna boats. Pilots liked it because it was an easy way to build hours and for the mechanics it was pretty easy duty taking care of one or maybe [...]
Pesky little critters
Posted: 20th March 2011 by coptermd in UncategorizedTags: 204, Bell 204, leaches, run-on landing, tail rotor
the pilot of the 204 called in that he was inbound to the cow pasture, his tail rotor was ineffective and he was about 15 minutes out.
Do you ever think about your “DASH”?
I know this is supposed to be a blog about Rotor aviation. But it’s MY blog, it’s raining heavily and a blizzard is threatening so I find myself waxing philosophical.
First, is every one familiar with what your “DASH” is? No, I am not trying to coin a new phrase [...]
The Mountain Top
Posted: 26th September 2010 by coptermd in UncategorizedTags: 206L1, AS355, freezing to death, Hughes 500, las Vegas, Nevada, rearc and rescue, twinstar
For those that are unaware, on the utility side of the helicopter industry the mechanic is in most cases also the load rigger, the truck driver, the fueler, and even the auto pilot on log ferry flights. This is a short story about one of these adventures that took place fairly early in my career.
In [...]
SKYCRANE DOWN
Posted: 28th August 2010 by coptermd in UncategorizedTags: Bell-206B3, CH54, logging, SkyCrane, SURVIVORS
In the early 90’s the company that I was with was engaged in logging operations in the Sierra Nevada Mountains about 25 miles west south west of Tahoe.
We were using a Restricted Type CH54 SkyCrane for a lift ship and a Bell 206B3 for a choker /support ship.
Now for those of you that have never [...]
The unmentioned facts about Helicopter Safety
Posted: 4th July 2010 by coptermd in UncategorizedTags: accident data base, AEC, Bell, engine failure, FAA, fatalities, H2SW, H3WE, H9EU, Helicopter Safety, Hughes, MD, post crash fire, rotor craft accidents, Rotorcraft accidents’, turbine rotorcraft
Aviation in itself is not inherently dangerous. But to an even greater degree than the sea, it is terribly unforgiving of carelessness, incapacity, or neglect
Integrity vs. the Bottom line
Posted: 7th June 2010 by coptermd in UncategorizedTags: 206L1, Aviation Technician, Freewheeling, Karma, maintenance manual, tail rotor blades, tail rotor strike
There comes a time in the career of every Aviation Technician when he or she will be forced by the boss to make the choice between your integrity and your paycheck. I have had this situation arise four times in the last thirty years and that is the reason that I am never complacent about [...]
The unloved, unmentioned, and largely unnoticed
Posted: 18th May 2010 by coptermd in UncategorizedTags: American Airlines flight 1549, Charls Lindberg, Chuck Yeager, fire helicopter, Medivac helicopter, Police helicopter, Sully
Surely you have heard of Charles Lindbergh and the Spirit of St. Louis… but can you tell me the name of his mechanic? How about Chuck Yeager when he first broke the sound barrier, what was the name of the man who got the Bell X1 ready for that infamous flight? In case you are [...]