Teaching on the H369/MD500

G & GCCUO at Oxford

Had a very interesting training day, today.
First, when we were doing the pre-start checks there was no 'clicking' sound from the automatic relight, which seem to indicate it was not working. I rang an engineer to find out why this would happen - but he was at Silverstone awaiting the Grand Prix - so busy. Tomas got out and went back to the engine bay, to check if he could see anything loose. Nothing obvious.
We decided to start up and hover for a while anyway - should we have any problems we would only be in the hover.
We started up, and taxied out - called immediately by the tower - our engine bay canopy was open and flapping. Stop and fix.
I jumped out and fastened it. Shows two things: one, that it cannot be seen from the instructor's seat, and two, that it is very easy to forget to do things when you get distracted.
Having fastened the canopy, I got back in the cockpit and called the tower that it was done. However, they said - no - shut down it must be properly checked. I agreed and we did so.
After we had shut-down the Airfield Manager came over. Taking off without properly closing the canopy is an MO (Minor incident?) and thus must be logged and properly checked in case the hinges had been affected. I checked them, they were OK, we had not, after all, taxied very far. No problem.

When we did our pre-start-up checks the automatic relight clicking was working again, so probably it is a bit like recycling your computer!
Then, we did a hot-engine start-up - good practice for Tomas. Here, because the engine is already around 350 degrees C, you must reduce the TOT to before 150 degrees C before putting in the fuel, to avoid a hot engine-start.
You understand the difference - one we are talking of a pre-start engine heat of about 350 degrees C, the other is what you want to avoid, the engine temperature going over 810 degrees centigrade for 10 seconds, and even more over 927 degrees C for more than a second.
When you do see the temperature heading up there (usually when there is a low powered or faulty battery) it does make your heart pump!
Started up without incident, and flew away for some more autorotation and confined area practice.