H-34 Choctaw/Emergency Procedures
SECTION 7. EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
Contents
1 Engine Failure
1.1 Engine Failure On Takeoff
- Simultaneously reduce collective pitch and apply aft cyclic.
 - Maintain directional control with pedals
 - Increase collective pitch to cushion landing
 - Apply wheel brakes
 
1.2 Engine Failure During Climb/Cruise
- Collective - FULL DOWN
 - Airspeed - 60 knots
 - Cabin Occupants - ALERTED
 - Tailwheel Lock - LOCKED
 - Wheel brakes - OFF
 - Shoulder harnesses - OFF
 - At 75 feet - Aft cyclic to initiate flare
 - At 15-20 knots - Forward cyclic to level aircraft
 - Collective - Gradually increase to soften landing
 - On ground contact - Collective full down
 - Wheel brakes - APPLY
 
1.3 In-Flight Restart
Note: It is the pilot's judgement on whether to attempt an in-flight restart or to make a power-off landing.
- Collective - FULL DOWN
 - Throttle - CLOSED
 - Mixture - IDLE CUT-OFF
 - Fuel Boost - ON
 - Fuel Selector - OPEN
 - Ignition - BOTH
 - Starter - DEPRESS
 - Primer Switch - DEPRESS
 - Mixture - RICH (after engine starts)
 - Throttle - Increase to normal RPM
 
1.4 Securing Engine In Flight
- Throttle - CLOSED
 - Mixture - IDLE CUT-OFF
 - Fuel Boost - OFF
 - Ignition - OFF
 - Fuel Selector - CLOSE
 
2 Tail Rotor Failure
2.1 Tail Rotor Failure on Takeoff or Below 10 Feet
- Throttle - CLOSE
 - Cyclic - Maintain Level Attitude
 - Collective - Raise to soften landing
 - Wheel Brakes - APPLY
 
2.2 Tail Rotor Failure Above 10 Feet
- Throttle - CLOSE
 - Collective - FULL DOWN
 - Airspeed - 60 knots
 - Cabin Occupants - ALERTED
 - Tailwheel Lock - LOCKED
 - Wheel brakes - OFF
 - Shoulder harnesses - OFF
 - At 75 feet - Aft cyclic to initiate flare
 - At 15-20 knots - Forward cyclic to level aircraft
 - Collective - Gradually increase to soften landing
 - On ground contact - Collective full down
 - Wheel brakes - APPLY
 
3 Fire
3.1 Fire On The Ground
- Mixture - IDLE CUT-OFF
 - Fuel Boost - OFF
 - Fuel Selector - CLOSE
 - Ignition - OFF
 - External Power - Disconnect
 - Battery-Generator - OFF
 - Fire - Extinguish
 
3.2 In-Flight Engine Fire
- Collective - FULL DOWN
 - Airspeed - 60 knots
 - Throttle - CLOSED
 - Mixture - IDLE CUT-OFF
 - Fuel Boost - OFF
 - Fuel Selector - CLOSE
 - Ignition - OFF
 - Cabin Occupants - ALERTED
 - Tailwheel Lock - LOCKED
 - Wheel brakes - OFF
 - Shoulder harnesses - OFF
 - At 75 feet - Aft cyclic to initiate flare
 - At 15-20 knots - Forward cyclic to level aircraft
 - Collective - Gradually increase to soften landing
 - On ground contact - Collective full down
 - Wheel brakes - APPLY
 
3.3 Electrical Fire
- Battery-Generator Switch - OFF
 - Fire Extinguisher - DEPLOY
 
4 Main Gear Box Failure
4.1 Operation Over Land
If main gearbox oil press drops below 25 psi, or a main gearbox chip light illuminates, land immediately.
4.2 Operation Over Sea
If main gearbox oil press drops below 25 psi, or a main gearbox chip light illuminates, take the following actions based on the relevant situation.
4.2.1 If Close to Shore or Landing Site
Proceed at a slow rate of speed (50-60 knots) to minimize overheating.
4.2.2 If Gearbox Temperature Pegged
- Prepare to ditch
 - Head toward nearest landing site
 - Establish slow cruise (50-60 knots) to permit a quick flare followed by ditching at first sign of failure.
 
4.2.3 If Gearbox Temperature Above Redline but not Pegged
- Prepare to ditch
 - Head toward nearest landing site
 - Monitor gearbox oil pressure. If it drops establish slow cruise (50-60 knots) to permit a quick flare followed by ditching at first sign of failure.
 
4.2.4 Pressure Zero. Temperature within Limits
Note: This indication could be a malfunctioning pressure gauge.
- Prepare to ditch
 - Head for nearest landing site
 - Monitor gearbox oil pressure. Cruise speed and altitude may be higher than in previous two cases.
 - If oil temperature rises establish slow cruise (50-60 knots) to permit a quick flare followed by ditching at first sign of failure.
 
5 Ditching
- Transmit Distress Signal
 - Notify cabin passengers
 - Have cabin occupants open the cabin door
 - Open sliding windows in cockpit
 - Order copilot to secure engine prior to entering the water
 - Upon contact with water, continue to increase collective to slow rotor blade motion
 
6 Electrical Failures
6.1 Generator Failure
Indication - GEN WARN light illuminated
- Battery/Generator switch - Leave in BATT & GEN position to use only essential equipment
 - Unneeded Equipment and Lights - OFF
 - If equipment on secondary bus is needed, the Battery/Generator can be put in the BATT ONLY position, but battery power will be used more quickly.
 
6.2 No 1 Inverter Failure
Indication - INST PWR FAILURE light illuminated
- Instruments relying on AC power will be lost
 - Instrument Power switch - NO 2 INV (if needed, and sufficient battery power)
 
6.3 No 2 Inverter Failure
Indication - Loss of ASE, radar altimeter and transponder.
Equipment on the bus cannot be powered in the event of a No 2 Inverter failure.
6.4 Bus shorts
Bus shorts will result in equipment on one or more busses going inoperative. Care should be taken due to the risk of an electrical fire.
- Battery/Generator - OFF (at pilot's discretion)
 - Land - As soon as practical
 
7 Flight Servo Failures
- Affected servo - TURN OFF (PRI OFF or AUX OFF)
 - Airspeed - below 60 knots
 - Land - As soon as practicable