Airworthiness and Flight Characteristics Test of a Ski Assembly for the UH-60A Black Hawk Helicopter

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Airworthiness and Flight Characteristics Test of a Ski Assembly for the UH-60A Black Hawk Helicopter

R. W. Cason / J. I. Nagata / T. L. Reynolds / D. Belte

An Airworthiness and Flight Characteristics test of the UH-60A helicopter (S/N 84-23953) configured with a ski assembly was conducted by the U.S. Army Aviation Engineering Flight Activity. The test was conducted at the Sikorsky Flight Test Facility at West Palm Beach, Florida (elevation 28 feet). A total of 25.5 productive flight hours were flown during the period 6 to 30 April 1987. Tests were conducted to determine the handling qualities and performance decrement of the ski assembly on the UH-60A helicopter at average mission gross weights of approximately 16,000 and 22,000 pounds. The handling qualities of the UH-60A with the ski assembly installed were essentially unchanged from those previously reported for the normal utility UH-60A. Two previously reported shortcomings are still evident: neutral static longitudinal stability during intermediate rated power climbs, and self-excited aircraft pitch oscillation with the collective control raised sufficiently for the aircraft to be 'light' on its wheels. The equivalent flat plate area of the ski assembly was determined to be 3 square feet. Several miscellaneous observations were made regarding the effects of the ski installation.