 CAPTAIN HUGH KENNEDY
CAPTAIN KATHERINE ASHTON
In June of 2003, school standards pilot Captain Hugh Kennedy and instructor pilot Captain Kathy Ashton were conducting autorotation training in a CH-139 Jet Ranger helicopter at Grabber Green near Southport, Manitoba. Captain Ashton commenced a power-off 500-foot straight ahead autorotation, simulating a demonstration to a student. During the descent, Captain Ashton noticed that the controls were becoming stiff, but thought that the standards pilot (Captain Kennedy) was simulating a student that was holding the controls too tightly.
While in the flare, and just seconds before touchdown, Captain Ashton realized that there was a total loss of hydraulic pressure and called Captain Kennedy to assist with the landing. With no opportunity to overshoot, and with very little time for communication, they were committed to an auto-rotative landing. As the flight controls were now un-boosted, the helicopter required the combined efforts of both Captain Ashton and Captain Kennedy to pull in sufficient collective to cushion the landing. Together, the crewmembers landed the helicopter from the autorotation without hydraulic assist.
While it is not uncommon for instructors to simulate flight without hydraulic assistance under very controlled circumstances, crews have neither been trained to complete an autorotation with a hydraulic failure, nor have they attempted one. In this case, the crew was committed to completing the autorotation with a genuine failure of the hydraulic system, and made a successful landing.
By utilizing a high level of crew co-ordination, in a situation where time was critical, both instructors prevented the loss of aircraft and personnel.
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