Gogo juice

Rotor Research Pty Ltd Helicopter Info Site

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Originally written by TC 1988

“Go Go Juice”

With a large number of helicopter accidents still happening attributed to “air in the fuel” – it is time to rethink our attitudes and to also look at the mechanics of the monitoring the fuel supply system.

Lets look at attitudes first

Some helicopter pilots probably have one unique world record of their own; running out of fuel while airborne in a perfectly serviceable helicopter!

Why?

Your guess is as good as mine, with fatigue affecting the thought process being a major consideration.

Everyone blames everyone else for bad training. The offending pilots don’t seem to care (not externally anyway) and some regulatory authorities don’t show their strength by enforcing the penalties for breaking the law.

Some pilots feel that it’s their own business as to how they conduct their operations – including breaking their own aircraft. This is fair enough, as long as it isn’t at the expense of other pilots and operators by causing increased insurance premiums and consumer resistance to Helicopter Ops.

The time has now arrived for each professional pilot (you & I) to make a stand and sort these problems out.

Some suggestions:

Always use a dip stick to check your fuel tank level – (if you really wanted to - a flexible, fixed length, neoprene rope calibrated with knots can be used with some machines like the B206)

TIP: Dip your tanks often!!

Get to know your own machine’s exact average fuel consumption by dipping the tank at known time intervals from a full tank start.

TIP: Every two hours works well for most machines – starting with full tanks

Check your engine operator’s manual for fuel consumption figures and usage charts. Did you know the R22 can use 38 litres an hour at max continuous power??? – reducing to 28 - 30 litres at 65% engine power with a normal fuel/air mixture.

TIP: Make sure you allow time for fuel to flow through and level in the tanks before you dip them.

Never trust your fuel gauge – unless it reads “EMPTY”. Land and check the tank contents ASAP if you suspect the gauge is incorrect.

TIP: Landing is cheap insurance.

Buy a cheap stop watch and velcro it where you can see it, in shade if possible. Besides knowing exactly how much to charge your customer, you now have an exact way of calculating how long your engine has been sucking fuel from the tank and also knowing when it will stop! Always click your stopwatch at engine start and calculate fuel usage at the normal consumption.

TIP: Some engines, especially turbines, have a high fuel usage even at idle!

When on a ferry flight and you need to land in the bush to refill from Jerry cans, start looking for a place to set down at least 15 minutes before you eat into your reserves.

TIP: In some places it takes a while, maybe up to 10 minutes, to find a safe spot and pilots seem to forget that fuel is being used while a recce is carried out and till the engine is shut down.

Running out of fuel is usually 99% the pilot’s fault.

	Know your machines fuel consumption at different power settings.
	Trust no-one to check your fuel level for you.
	Use a reliable fuel quantity measuring system.
	Don’t be a Drongo in the eyes of the helicopter community – think ahead and plan ahead so you don’t put yourself under pressure.
	Determine that you are not going below your min ground speed required to make from point to point safely.