Sikorsky S97 Raider Makes First Flight This Morning

The hard landing was the result of a Fly By Wire problem. During the taxi to the takeoff position, the flight control system switched from simple ground mode, to augmented flight mode before takeoff. The crew lifted to a hover, but couldn't stabilize, and set down, resulting in a hard landing. The pilots shut down the engine and electronics and egressed. The airframe suffered significant damage, but the airframe systems designed to help protect the crew in the event of an accident worked and the crew suffered minor injuries. The failure has been reproduced in the simulator.

aviationweek.com...

So they are putting a big buzzer in their now to tell the crew thats happening?They should extend "Bitchin Bettys" vocabulary to update the crew on menu changes..

a reply to: Blackfinger

They'll probably update the software so the switch can't be made on the ground, or has to be deliberately selected.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Second prototype to take flight by early 2018. Sikorsky plans on weapon integration tests potentially in 2019.

www.flightglobal.com...

So there was a little more to this than originally reported. In late 2015 control laws were changed to improve air to ground transitions. This resulted in cyclic sensitivity increasing 2.5x while in transition. During the accident, the aircraft detected weight coming off the wheels, and shifted to in- transition mode on the flight controls. As they got airborne, there was a slight left roll, so the pilot input right roll to correct. Instead, the aircraft rolled as much as 60 degrees right, resulting in the main rotors touching, snapping the blade tips off. The pilot attempted to land quickly, and the landing gear collapsed, resulting in the pusher prop impacting the runway.

www.dispatch.com...

Id love to see the G rating on the landing gear.Very lucky.

Did the P2 prototype ever take flight?

a reply to: anzha

I don't recall ever hearing it did, but they might have kept it quiet.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Interesting.

Did we get confirmation BoSik bid the Raider on the FARA contract? After all, Bell didn't go tilt rotor.

Can you taste the irony of giving up on the A109, Bell?