CSP-HE/HS-1
ROTORCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL
Handling, Servicing,
and Maintenance
MD 500
(Models 369HE/HS/HM
)
Revision 6
7-4
7-5. MOVING AND TOWING HELICOPTER
Manually move helicopter on ground handling wheels by balancing at tailboom
and pushing on rear fuselage portion of airframe.
Except under extreme emergency conditions, do not tow helicopter
at speeds over 5 mph. Do not allow front end of skid tubes to drag
on ground. Avoid sudden stops and starts and short turns which
could cause helicopter to turn over. Allow inside wheel to turn (not
pivot) while helicopter is being turned. Safe minimum turning radius
is approximately 20 feet.
Tow helicopter on ground handling wheels by attaching suitable tow bar to tow
bar fittings. If tow bar is not equipped to keep front ends of skid tubes from
dragging, have an assistant balance helicopter at tailboom.
7-6. PARKING AND MOORING
Parking (Ref. Figure 7−3):
To prevent rotor damage from blade flapping (droop stop pounding)
as a result of air turbulence from other aircraft landing, taking off
or taxiing or sudden wind gusts, rotor blades should be secured
whenever helicopter is parked.
Locate helicopter slightly more than one blade length clearance from nearby
objects on the most level ground available.
Apply friction to lock cyclic and collective so that cyclic is neutral and col−
lective is full down.
Secure main rotor blades as follows.
Turn blades until one blade is directly above tailboom.
Install blade socks on all blades.
Secure blade sock tiedown cord for blade located above tailboom to tail−
boom. Secure other blade sock tiedown cords to fuselage jack fittings.
When securing blade sock tiedown cords, take up slack, but do
not apply excessive bending loads on blades.
CAUTION
CAUTION
CAUTION
