MU-2 Crash in Hillsboro

[Flyin Tony]

there’s a company in Tennessee (I believe) that also comes highly recommended

www.mu2b.com
His name is Reece Howell

 

[Snakum]

Cool thread ...

The flight department I hope to move to next will be flying an MU2 (in addition to a B100) and I initially had a hard time getting my brain around that one, after losing a friend last December to an MU2.

However, after having talked to my future boss and my present boss about MU2s I now have no problems at all interviewing for a right seat in one. Both Captains independantly echo'd what Lead Posted here.

Good maintenance + good training = safe MU2 piloting (generally-speaking)

There will always be exceptions, and we all know this profession has it's hazards, but I'm no longer scared of the airplane. I know the one I'll be interviewing for will be very well-maintained, and I have been assured of top-notch, regular training.

I'll always respect it ... but I'm no longer scared of it.

Minhberg
(future MU2 hopeful)

 

[Hung Start]

Snakem:

I have over 3500 hours in a B-100, both -6 and -10's. Nice ride, especially the -10. The Garretts were always good to me, never had a no flyable condition. But if I may be so bold to suggest anything, learn the NTS system like the back of your hand. No,,, learn it better. It will either save your life or kill you, your choice. And when you know it,, review it often.

Reese is the guy for MU-2's but if your going in the B-100 try getting Ken Elly at Simcom Orlando. He has a lot of tme in B-100's and knows the systems very well. Not too many sim instructors have ever been in a B-100, and they just read the book to you. He knows the stuff. (almost as much as me!

 

[Lead Sled]

But if I may be so bold to suggest anything, learn the NTS system like the back of your hand. No, learn it better. It will either save your life or kill you, your choice. And when you know it, review it often.

Bingo. That's the advice that I'd give as well - for any Garrett-powered airplane.

I'll always respect it ... but I'm no longer scared of it.

That's the proper attitude for any airplane, not just the MU-2 - however, it is especially applicable to the MU-2.

Up until now, the stuff you've been flying hasn't been too demanding. That's about to change. I enjoyed flying the MU-2.

'Sled

 

[semperfido]

i flew one for a number of years in the early 80's (N50KW) and it was a hoot. hind-sight being what it is, i wouldn't reccomend one to anybody. mostly operated now by cheap cash strapped operators. it is a white elephant that should be avoided. JMO

 

[Snakum]

learn the NTS system like the back of your hand

Please forgive my ig'nunce ... "NTS System"?

Up until now, the stuff you've been flying hasn't been too demanding. That's about to change. I enjoyed flying the MU-2.

I must admit, with the B200, it has been a challenge to keep up with sheer number of things that must be done as opposed to piston singles, and it's all happening quite a bit faster, but it is quickly becoming manageable. The Captain is an excellent teacher and really pours it on so that I'm always just a little tiny bit overwhelmed - he thinks newbies learn better that way and I think he's right. And the actual hand-flying wasn't bad at all once I learned to lighten up and fly it with my fingers, and once I got used to the right-seat picture on approaches and landings. Just as you guys said, the King Air is a great transitional airplane.

And just as you guys also said, according to my two mentors (present boss and future boss [hopefully]) the B100 takes a bit of work to learn it's idiosyncrasies, and the MU2 takes a LOT of work. But it's a good transition ... B200 --> B100 --> MU2 --> future boss says the Big Guy has a CJ3 on order for 2008 (iirc) and that should, by all accounts, be an easy transition after a few hundred hours in an MU2

Minh

 

[Lead Sled]

...future boss says the Big Guy has a CJ3 on order for 2008 (iirc) and that should, by all accounts, be an easy transition after a feww hundred hours in an MU2

Anything is an easy transition after a few hundred hours in the MU-2.

'Sled

 

[Hung Start]

NTS= Negative Torque Sensing. Garretts answer to auto feather, but it isn't.

It is a No-go item, and best to be learned well. There was a Cessna 441 that was at altitude, after a major engine repair, TESTING the NTS. And it crashed, from on high because it failed. All you need to do is stand in front of the propellers and look at how wide they are, and imagine them going flat pitch on you just as your bringing the gear up. If they don't try to go towards feather you have a ton of drag. nawww, maybe 2 tons. And with a MU-2 and ts small wing and spoilers, it just gets worse. Still, great aiplanes if you treat them right.

And, they will not completely feather, only to about 85%, you get to do the rest.

 

[Hung Start]

By the way, if you do get to the B-100, PM me and I'll give you my #. I'll fill you in on everythng I know. Owner one for 9 years or so, got to be pretty handy around the old girl.

 

[Lead Sled]

NTS= Negative Torque Sensing. Garretts answer to auto feather, but it isn't...It is a No-go item, and best to be learned well...And, they will not completely feather, only to about 85%, you get to do the rest.

On the MU-2, if you trimmed the airplane with the propellor riding on the NTS you wouldn't have to retrim it when you went to feather. The fact that it doesn't completely feather the propellor isn't a big deal. What is a big deal is that it truly is a "NO-GO System" and, as others have said, need to be understood and respected. It can kill you.

'Sled

 

[B1900 Mech]

They don't call the powerplant's on that hunk-a-junk,"Garrett Grenades" for nothing, Very unreliable direct coupled prop to engine core, with a complex negative torque system. If the prop fail's to feather, you die.

 

[Snakum]

By the way, if you do get to the B-100, PM me and I'll give you my #. I'll fill you in on everythng I know. Owner one for 9 years or so, got to be pretty handy around the old girl.

Thanks very much ... I'll definitely take you upon that. If everything goes according to plan (I know ... it rarely does) I want to be ready to interview by next Summer for what I hope is a very long-term opportunity. The gentleman running the department is a good guy ... a very generous and knowledgeable teacher. He has pretty much guaranteed me an interview, but I have a lot of work to do before then to ensure he's impressed enough to give me a shot at the job. I could be perfectly happy flying turboprops for as long as I can hold a Class 1, so I hope it works out.

And about MU2s ... I talked to a guy yesterday who has almost 1000 hours in them and he loves the airplane. It seems like most of the guys who've flown them for a while all love the MU2, and some even say it's a 'fun' airplane and that it only requires respect for it's quirks, good maintenance, and solid training.

Sounds like a plan to me.


Mitsubishi Minh

 

[Mogus]

Would anyone here just straight up refuse to fly one?

 

[bigD]

I would if they expected me to fly it without the proper training. And by that I mean I'd want to go to Reece Howell in Tennessee.

I'm assuming you mean as PIC - not as just a right seater.

 

[bigD]

I know posting twice in a row is lame, but oh well - I had something to add!

Also, that's assuming I had the other requisite experience to feel comfortable in one. I'm just now barely insurable in a 'regular' turboprop as PIC - I'm not sure, even with the training, that I'd get in an MU-2 at this point. I'd like to have more overall experience under my belt.