Numerical simulation of the water landing process of a light civil helicopter in level 5 sea conditions

Abstract

A helicopter emergency flotation system can provide flotation capability after the helicopter accidentally falls into the water. To solve the problem of attitude change of a helicopter after landing in water, a numerical simulation was carried out on a light civil helicopter with a weight of 3.5 t. It was simulated in level 5 sea conditions, the traveling speed was 15.4 m/s, and the height of the lowest point of the hydrostatic helicopter from the water surface was 250-260 mm, with or without lift, with or without floats. Landing on the water can be done with either basic or elliptical floats and in three different postures. The simulation results show that equipping a helicopter with pontoons can significantly improve its overturning resistance and flotation capabilities, but the impact on a helicopter equipped with pontoons will increase. Landing a helicopter in the water at a certain elevation angle is beneficial to the stability of the helicopter. A helicopter with a basic pontoon is more stable when it lands in the water. The performance is higher than that of the ellipsoidal pontoon, but the pitch stability of the basic pontoon is lower than that of the ellipsoidal pontoon.