R44 Dets
R44 Min and Max Gross Weight
Max / Seat and Compartment
1600lbs min
2500lbs max
300lbs / seat including baggage
50lns / baggage compartment
R44 Dets
Main and Aux Usable Fuel
Main 29.5 gallons
Aux 17 gallons
R44 Dets
Powerplant Dets: FSHAND
Fuel Injected
Six Cylinder
Horizontally Opposed
Air Cooled
Naturally Aspirated
Direct Drive
R44 Dets
Critical Dimensions of the R44
MR, TR, Height, Min / Max Length, Min Width
MR 33’
TR 4’ 10”
Min Length 29’ 5”
Max Length 38’ 3”
Min Width 6’ 11”
Navigation
NM to SM
1 NM = 1.15 SM
1SM = 0.87 NM
nm is smaller than sm! When converting kph to mph, mph will be smaller
R44 Dets
R44 Airspeeds
Vne 2200 or less = 130
Vne greater than 2200 = 120
Autorotate = 100
Doors off = 100
At max MCP = 100
Best Rate of Climb = 55
R44 Dets
Primary construction materials
Fuselage: welded steel tubing and riveted aluminum sheet metal
Tailcone: monocoque structure with aluminum skins
Doors and other structures: thermoplastics and fiberglass
Around engine: stainless steel firewall
Leading Edge of MR: thick stainless steel spar
R44 Dets
What connects blades to MR hub?
What connects hub to mast?
Blades attached to the hub at coning hinges.
Hub attached to mast at teetering hinges.
R44 Dets
When must blades be refinished?
If paint erodes to bare metal at the skin-to-spar bond line.
FARs
When is an airport eligible to be listed as an alternate for helicopters?
if it has an IAP: 2 -1 - BNL
200’ ceilings and 1 SM visibility but neverless than the visibility for the approach to be flown
no IAP: visibility and ceilings allows for descent from the MEA, approach, and landing in basic VFR
FARs
When do I need to list an alternate on a flight plan as a heli pilot?
You must always list an alternate unless these conditions are met:
* the primary airport has an IAP
AND
* the weather adheres to the 1142 rule
* *at ETA + 1 hour
* *1000’ ceilings or 400’ above minimums, whichever is higher
* * 2SM visibility
Radios
What does an antenna do?
An antenna is used to convert electric current into a radio wave so it can travel through space to a receiving antenna.
Radios
What type of frequency travels furthest?
Lower frequencies travel the farthest.
Radios
What are some characteristics of ground waves?
Bounded by the surface of the earth and the ionosphere; cannot travel into space; used for navigation purposes because it travels predictably and reliably and are not influenced much by external factors
Radios
What are some of the characteristics of space waves?
Able to pass through the ionosphere; 15MH and above; many nav systems use space waves (VOR, DME, ILS, GPS); signals are used before they reach the ionosphere and are subjected to those errors; BUT, GPS signals travel through the ionosphere but all errors from the ionosphere are corrected by the GPS receiver
Radios
What is Static?
Radio static is the hissing or crackling sound you hear when a radio isn’t tuned to a specific station, caused by the receiver picking up random background radio waves from natural sources (like lightning) and human-made interference (other electronics) rather than a strong broadcast signal, effectively mixing all those frequencies into noise.
VOR
When using a VOR, do you select a radial or a course?
You select a COURSE. The radial you are on depends on whether you have a TO or FROM indication. TO means you are are technically on the reciprocal radial, flying inbound TO the station. FROM means you are flying outbound away from the station, the course you are on ALIGNS with the radial you are on.
VORs
When may your course align with the radial you are on?
Only if you have a FROM indication.
DPs
Types of departure procedures?
Obstacle Departure Procedure (ODP) : help pilots with obstruction avoidance, printed graphically or textually
Standard Instrument Departure : developed to communicate ATC clearances, printed graphically
Diverse Departure Procedure (aka no published DP) : if pilot ensures they are 35’ at DER, 200 fpnm climb rate, and doesn’t turn until at least 400’ above DER, they will avoid all obstacles and no ODP was necessary
DPs
What is a Diverse Departure Procedure?
Ensures that a prescribed, expanding amount of required obstacle clearance (ROC) is achieved during climb-out until the aircraft can obtain a minimum 1,000 feet ROC in non-mountainous areas or a minimum 2,000 feet ROC in mountainous areas.
This is based on three things:
-crossing the DER at at least 35’
-climbing to 400’ before turning
-climb gradient of 200 fpnm
DPs
What is the appropriate ROC value?
-at 25NM: 1000’
of ROC in non-mountainous terrain
-at 46NM: 2000’ in mountainous terrain
DPs
What is the ratio of the Obstacle Clearance Surface? What does that mean?
40:1
When the FAA designs a DP, they imagine an invisible ramp starting at the DER that rises at a 40:1 slope:
-For every 40 feet forward, the surface rises 1 foot
-This equals 152 feet per nautical mile (ft/NM)
This ramp is used to check whether terrain or obstacles stick up into it
DPs
What are Low, Close-In Obstacles
Obstacles within 1NM of the DER that penetrate the 40:1 OCS; they are included in the TPP (terminal instrument procedures publication, aka TERPs) in the take-off minimums and (obstacle) depature procedures section
think “trouble t”
DPs
If there’s a low, close-in obstacle and there is no change in required takeoff mins, how can the pilot avoid the obstacle?
-confirm details in the TPP
-pilot may be able to see the obstruction and
maneuver around if necessary
-Early liftoff/climb performance may allow the aircraft
to cross well above the obstacle(s)
-If the obstacle(s) cannot be visually acquired during
departure, preflight planning should take into account
what turns or other maneuver(s) may be necessary
immediately after takeoff
