The preliminary airworthiness evaluation of the UH-1H helicopter equipped with the receiver antenna of the Terrain Mapping Radar System was conducted in Lakehurst, New Jersey, between 21 November and 8 December 1986. The evaluation required 12 flights for a total of 14.8 hours, or which 12.0 hours were productive. Performance, handling qualities, and structural dynamic response tests were conducted. The modified UH-1H equipped with the receiver antenna demonstrated adequate handling qualities for the terrain mapping mission. However, the proposed mission profile requires extensive operation of the helicopter in an out-of-ground effect (OGE) hover. Although the handling qualities are acceptable, the degraded autorotational characteristics may preclude a safe autorotational landing in the event of a sudden engine failure at an OGE hover below 1000 feet above ground level. The minimum directional control margin and high pilot workload to maintain heading during low speed flight were a shortcoming. Three additional shortcomings were found during the evaluation.
Preliminary Airworthiness Evaluation of a UH-1 Equipped with a Terrain Mapping Receiver Antenna
1987
38 pages
Report
No indication
English
Radiofrequency Detection , Cartography , Aircraft , Airworthiness , Antennas , Helicopters , Radar mapping , Receivers , Control , Directional , Dynamic response , Engines , Failure , Flight speeds , Ground level , Handling , High rate , Hovering , Low velocity , Mapping , Mission profiles , New jersey , Operation , Pilots , Quality , Structural response , Terrain , Test methods , Work measurement , UH-1 aircraft
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