Blade de-lamination

[Stu Fields]

Recently there was an accident with a very low time (3hr TT)RotorWay
helicopter being piloted by a high time RotorWay experienced instructor and
the owner a commercial rated helo pilot. They were hovering at a 3' level
with the owner at the controls when it snapped rolled to the left so hard
that the rotor head hit the ground almost the first thing with a clod stuck
in the rotor head. All the controls were intact, the owner got a cut in the
head requiring stitches. On the way back they were discussing what possibly
could have caused this. The owner opined an in flight blade de-lamination.
This was supported by photos. The Owner is a Phd who has written text books
about rotorcraft structures and aerolasticity. He further was a consultant
to the company who manufactured the blade he was using. These blades,
called "Waitman" when used on the RotorWay, have been around for some time
and this is the first de-lamination that I have ever heard of. Bad
resin???? For those of you who have access the Sept issue of Experimenal
Helo magazine will have a first person article about the accident with
photos.

[Steve R.]

Post by Stu Fields
Recently there was an accident with a very low time (3hr TT)RotorWay
helicopter being piloted by a high time RotorWay experienced instructor
and the owner a commercial rated helo pilot. They were hovering at a 3'
level with the owner at the controls when it snapped rolled to the left so
hard that the rotor head hit the ground almost the first thing with a clod
stuck in the rotor head. All the controls were intact, the owner got a
cut in the head requiring stitches. On the way back they were discussing
what possibly could have caused this. The owner opined an in flight blade
de-lamination. This was supported by photos. The Owner is a Phd who has
written text books about rotorcraft structures and aerolasticity. He
further was a consultant to the company who manufactured the blade he was
using. These blades, called "Waitman" when used on the RotorWay, have
been around for some time and this is the first de-lamination that I have
ever heard of. Bad resin???? For those of you who have access the Sept
issue of Experimenal Helo magazine will have a first person article about
the accident with photos.

Now that's nothing but scary. It's a good thing they were only 3' off the
ground or this would have had an entirely different outcome.