Parachutes: Not Just For Breakfast Anymore

By Gene Yarbrough

Curti Zefhir, a European helicopter manufacturer, announced their product availability at Airventure 2021 highlighting the safety aspects of their aircraft, performance, and safety systems. Initially introduced to North America at Airventure 2019, Curti continues to innovate their Zefhir helicopter as a major player in the light helicopter market. Powered by the PBS TS100 engine derated to 141 hp from 250 hp, the unit is capable of delivering rated horsepower up to 15000 feet msl while carrying 1322 lb max gross weight.

While the performance numbers are impressive for the little helicopter it is whats mounted on top of the main rotor mass that stands out. The first of its kind whole airframe parachute system for a helicopter, unthinkable to most rotor wing enthusiasts, offers the same sense of safety previously afforded to only fixed wing operators.

According to the company website, Zefhir is the first helicopter in the world to be fitted with a ballistic parachute rescue system.

Installed above the main rotor, the parachute is designed as a backup for conditions where autorotation cannot be performed, such as:

• flight control failure or loss of maneuverability;
• flying over an area where emergency landing cannot be performed safely;
• flight conditions that prevent restoring rotor rotation speed.

The system was successfully tested for the first time in aviation history at Oristano-Fenosu Airport in June 2018.

During the test, the helicopter reached forward flight at 30 knots above 300 meters of altitude. The engine was then deliberately turned off to simulate its failure. The helicopter’s descent speed stabilized at less than 7.5 m/s (27 km/h). The ground impact resulted in deceleration peaks well within those required for the safeguarding of human life as routinely assessed in crash tests for the aeronautic and automotive industries. The system is in fact designed to save the crew’s lives, not necessarily the airframe.

The parachute canopy was fully deployed in about 6 seconds, leading to a minimum deployment altitude of 150 meters (450ft).

The system is designed to be deployed even at the maximum forward speed. Thanks to an innovative rotor brake, the quick stop of the rotors after the engine stop determines a quite immediate passage from forward flight to vertical fall, at the same time avoiding the wash-down effect of the main rotor blades, which could slow down the deployment of the canopy. The helicopter lands with the engine and rotor fully stopped: a condition that helps to prevent dangerous situations for the crew and for the potentially involved third parties.

If you can, autorotate. But if you can’t, the parachute will save your life!

Check out the Curti Zefhir at Oshkosh Display #311

FMI: https://zefhir.eu/safety/