Sat, Jan 14, 2012
Advises That 'Throttle Chops' Are Not Recommended In
Training
The FAA has issues an SAIB for owners and operators of Schweizer
269C and 269C-1 aircraft. The document indicates that Schweizer has
updated the instructions and warning in the approved Pilot Flight
Manual (PFM) to avoid throttle chops to full idle, minimizing the
possibility of engine stoppage.
The Windsor Locks Flight Standards District Office has found
numerous NTSB accident reports involving practice autorotations of
rotorcraft with air-aspirated engines. Most of these accidents were
caused by pilots conducting a rapid movement of the throttle, i.e.
throttle chop, resulting in the shutdown of the air-aspirated
engine. Another major factor in the accidents is that the
autorotations were practiced where by a safe touchdown could not be
accomplished with an unplanned engine shutdown as is required by
the FAA's Flight Instructor Practical Test Standards for
Rotorcraft, Helicopter, Gyroplane (FAA-S-8081-7), and Commercial
Pilot Practical test Standards for Rotorcraft, Helicopter,
Gyroplane (FAA-S-8081-16). At this time, this airworthiness concern
is not an unsafe condition that would warrant AD action under Title
14 of the Code of Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR) part
39.
The FAA strongly recommends that pilots and operators of
rotorcraft with Schweizer 269C and 269C-1 follow the updated PFM
revision #18 which was approved on June 28, 2011. The PFM was
updated to clarify instructions for practice autorotations and to
clarify warnings for pilots that "rapid throttle reductions to full
idle shall not be conducted".
A Post Flight Requirements section also was added to the PFM to
require the pilots to complete the following:
- Brief PAX on exit safety,
- Shutdown in accordance with Paragraph 4-14 & 4-16,
- Service aircraft as required,
- Notify maintenance of discrepancies, and
- Secure aircraft as required.
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