Bucketing Hazards

[skullcap]

What is the consensus for travelling with bucket, most I think like to go with empty bucket due to weight and if a bucket opens at speed while full it can come up. But I think flying with an empty bucket can be very hard on the strings/ropes.

[Helilog56]

All good stuff....as much as these hazards and pitfalls come into play for a pilot....it is also a reminder for operators, management, and chief pilots too ensure flight crews are current, proficient and have the appropriate experience before being sent out too work.

 

I just went for my USFS check ride....it is a pilot evaluation that they do on a regular basis.

 

Perhaps not such a bad idea north of the border ......????

[pilot5]

Agree with all the posts here, into current, wear a life vest... But more importantly go take an underwater egress course. What an eye opener. Getting out of a submerged upside down helicopter and knowing what to expect will give ya an clear advantage when/if it actually happens..

 

P5

[MMike]

... But more importantly go take an underwater egress course. What an eye opener. Getting out of a submerged upside down helicopter and knowing what to expect will give ya an clear advantage when/if it actually happens..

 

P5

 

Not that I would know, but I've spoken to a few pilots who have done this. And they said it takes two or three tries usually to get it right. You're all panicky the first go round. But you need to be calm and move deliberately.....but not necessarily at break neck speed. (And you use up your air less quickly too)

 

And when the real thing happens, you generally don't get a do-over.

[hybrid]

In response to Skullcaps post.

 

On the last drop before fuel I dip the bucket till about half full for the ferry back to staging, the bucket seems to fly better and I think it is easier on it.

[Over-Talk]

I agree with half-filling the bucket if the ferry is more than a few minutes.

 

The bucket flies better, and it seems to be less stressful on its bladder etc.

Also, the helicopter seems to fly less nose-down, and maybe a little faster. These are always considerations at the end of a fuel cycle.

But remember that buckets and external loads place restrictions on the VNE.

 

I once (accidentally) released the water at bucket VNE, and though the bucket did come up, it wasn't a threat to anything, from what I could see.

(.....and I could see a lot because my eyes were WIDE open!!).

[Skids Up]

I know there are folks still wearing the 'marine-approved' models and, while I'm sure they're more than likely perfectly safe, the liability factor undoubtedly could come into play, and it's likely to be a loser if you're 'ramped,' too.

 

TJ,

 

I wear an "unapproved" horse collar because it is more practical (and available when I needed it at the time)than the "approved" ones we carry as per the CAR's.

 

TC can go pound sand because I have the "approved" vest in the bag, under the seat, reachable as required, BUT knowing full well that it won't go out the door with me and thereby won't get used! Couldn't even get it on in the pool - how are you going to do it for real???

 

I agree that the approved one would be the way to go, but feel that I am better protected with what I have, than the protection the 'legal' one will provide...

 

 

I always fly the bucket "better than" half full. Flies better, more stable, and who knows, you might find a smoke on the way home...

[TooTall]

Dimi

 

Thanks for starting this post :-)

 

You are the man.

 

TT

[Winnie]

I wear an "unapproved" horse collar because it is more practical (and available when I needed it at the time)than the "approved" ones we carry as per the CAR's.

 

TC can go pound sand because I have the "approved" vest in the bag,

I agrees...

 

I use a mustang inflatable one for "Constant Wear" while the TC approved airline style garbage is somewhere...

 

Only thing one needs to be aware of with the inflatable ones, is to take out the 'salt pill' for self inflation, so that only YOU can inflate it, and not water as you become immersed. It is VERY difficult to get out AFTER it inflates.

 

Been on MANY a fire where I was the only one wearing the lifejacket, and lots of the medium guys scooping up water WAY out away from shore, but still no jacket on...

 

Great thread. Actually in class with some of the old Caaviation ones...

Cheers

H.

[Iceman]

Also when hooking your Bambi up check to see that the Ballast weight on the inside wall of the bucket is facing in the direction of flight (the front of the head) otherwise it won't fly properly and will make filling awkward.