The Invisible Threat-Heli

The Invisible Threat


Flying helicopters has to be one of the most rewarding flying experiences a person can have.  One instructor used to say to me “Helicopter flying is the most fun you can have with your pants on” and for many aviators helicopter flying is the branch of the industry they decided to be in.
Helicopters are very particular about many things and one of them is aerodynamics.  Even though the blades are airfoils and   develop lift the same way as airplane airfoils, once the rotor is at flight speed; depending on the model the tip of the rotor could be traveling at near 500 MPH.  This brings to your hands a very agile aircraft, this agility combined with a capable crew brings to the table an impressive array of different operations a helicopter can accomplish.
But all of this agility and capability comes with a price; the price to pay for this agility is that many of the things that affect a helicopter are counterintuitive to the crew.  Helicopter pilots have to be vigilant for the invisible threats that affect their aircraft. A capable and well trained helicopter pilot manages these threats every time he flies.

One of the invisible threats is “Settling with Power”, this aerodynamic flaw in a helicopter is capable of causing an accident to any helicopter regardless of size and power.  It develops quietly and can happen as often as every approach.  We all know how to avoid this threat and still we continue to see accidents related to this effect.  The usual causes is an unstable approach combined with performance limitations and an external factor.  Helicopters due to its nature are required to approach to unprepared landing zones, confined areas, buildings and dodge obstacles in the approach path.  Many crews have been cornered into a complicated situation during an approach due to the sum of factors that were not evaluated at the beginning of the approach like performance, turbulence, wind intensity and wind direction.

The other invisible threat is “Loss of Tail Rotor Effectiveness” (LTE) which is in the same category as the above threat and is a silent danger to our safety.  Usually developed from wind coming from the side opposite to the tail rotor it will cause loss of control in a matter of seconds. 

For the invisible threats there is no Master Caution Light or Alarm that will give us a heads up on the situation that is developing or lurking among us.  And as usual it relates to the capable, knowledgeable crew members.  Yes, there is only one way for these invisible threats to come into view.  They will be visible in the eyes of the pilots that plan, train and study each approach looking to see the Warnings and Cautions that their knowledge and experience sound inside their heads.
All of your takeoffs, landings, over flights and Approaches have the potential for this and other invisible threats to affect you.  It is only in the meticulous evaluation of each situation that these threats can be avoided.
Here are some basic principles to start your evaluation of a task.
 1- Which technique should be employed for this situation?
2-Which path would be the most appropriate?
3-Which environmental factors affect the chosen technique and path?
4-Are things changing?

Developing your own evaluation process or developing SOPs is the most effective way to estimate the impact your decisions have for each operation.  There are few things as demanding and challenging in our business as the operations destined to an unknown location in a changing environment.  The continued evaluation of the situation is the only way to maintain a safe operation.  And remember, avoiding a situation can begin with changing an approach path or not landing or taking off from a spot altogether. In the end you may have to explain your decisions, since the causes are not apparent to anyone else but you.  But this is exactly what you’re here for, to prevent an accident from happening through your knowledge and experience.


So lower your visor or put on your glasses or goggles since yours are the eyes that will see the invisible threats.
Safe flights,
Luca Pineda







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