Brantly roll overs

[seneca2e]

It seems in reading the Brantly accident reports that a lot of them wind up rolling over after a somewhat successful touchdown is made. Could the design of the oleo struts actually accentuate a roll over tendency compared to say stiff or rigid skids(with no shock absorbing oleo struts). I'm not talking about dynamic rollover(which the oleo struts supposedly lessen) but just catching them and having them spring or move somewhat. What do you think?

[N2285U]

I think the majority of roll overs is due to the inexperience of the pilot and probably not the helicopter. The Brantly is one of the cheapest certified helicopters flying and that usually invites the lowest time "new to helicopters" pilots around which usually ends up bad. Of course, this is just my opinion.

[Ron Spiker]

I agree with N2285U. I have seen personally and on video a few very near rollovers, and at least one where I don't know how it didn't roll over. One accident last year that resulted in a rollover was due to the skid getting caught in soy beans (I believe) which then pulled it over. I do know of at least one very experienced pilot rolling a Brantly over too though. It's just my opinion but I don't think the oleo struts increase the liklihood of a rollover. I don't have any actual data to back that up though.

[bryancobb]

My humble opinion (not scientific) is that the overwhelming majority of helicopter accidents (all types of ships) are DYNAMIC ROLLOVER accidents. By definition, this is when a helicopter is PIVOTING about 1 skid at a rate that cannot be stopped with cyclic.

I personally got myself into 2 separate situations when I feel that if it hadn't been for the Brantly's design of landing gear, I would have rolled over. Both were situations where I wrote an overdrawn check in the POWER AVAILABLE BANK, and painted myself into a corner.

Both could have been rollovers in a Robinson or an A-Star or Jet Ranger. I feel the "caddy-wampus" touchdowns were quickly neutralized by the way the oleo's wotrk!

[Charlie]

Or it could just be that the skids hang down lower than people realize when the struts are extended and get caught on things?
Charlie

[n5913x]

yes you hit the nail on the head . every one forgets the skids drop a foot or so . after take off . not common on a helicopter and i always thought they should of turned the back of of the skids up a little bit like the front but not as much.i plan to make a set for mine. i will show picthers when done. my ship is 2191u . what do you guys think?