AN INVESTIGATION OF PILOTING STRATEGIES FOR ENGINE FAILURES DURING TAKEOFF FROM OFFSHORE PLATFORMS

An analysis technique capable of simulating the effect of engine failu re during takeoff from offshore platforms is presented. Use is made of inverse simulation whereby the control actions required for a subject helicopter to follow a particular trajectory can be established. A ma thematical representation of the towering takeoff procedure, and detai ls of the modified inverse simulation technique needed to cope with th e modelling of an engine failure are described. Detailed piloting acco unts of the strategy used to fly the towering takeoff (with and withou t engine failures) are also given and are used to give qualitative val idation of the analytical approach. Simulation results for a single en gine failure of a transport helicopter during critical phases of a tow ering takeoff are presented. Finally, some directions for future work and potential applications of the technique are discussed.