Eagle Helicycle

Schramm's concept for the Helicycle was to provide a kit for building a reliable, high-performance, real helicopter for a reasonable cost to individuals (on the order of a mid-priced SUV). Fabrication and assembly skills only require being able to accurately drill holes, bend sheet metal and tubing, install fasteners, run wiring, etc.; no welding or highly specialized aviation-specific tools are required. Kits are delivered in six increments, including the frame and skids, engine, transmission, main rotor subassembly, tail rotor subassembly, controls and linkages, cockpit exterior/interior, and fuel and electrical subsystems. Assembly instructions are provided in the form of video clips on video CDs (Video CDs) or DVDs, blueprints, and checklists.

Specific design features include a fully harmonized rotor, a modulated collective pitch system, very low twice-per-revolution vibration level due to elastomeric thrust bearings, a sufficient flapping angle for low-"G" maneuvers and slope landings, control friction devices, and an electronic throttle control (governor).

The feel of the controls in the Helicycle is modeled after that of the Robinson R22, such that quick stops and autorotations are performed similarly in both aircraft, reportedly allowing new pilots to transition to flying their kits with minimal adjustments.

The Helicycle helicopter is the first experimental helicopter kit in mass-production to be powered by a turbine engine, the military surplus Solar T62-T32, capable of producing 150 shaft horsepower. The engine is limited to 95 horsepower due to torque limits on the main gearbox and rotor system.

As of June 2010, five runs of about 30 kits each had been delivered to builders, for a total of 160 kits, of which more than 80 had been completed and were flying, with another kit being completed every other month, on average (delivery of a sixth run was scheduled to start in 2010). A unique feature of the kits is that a factory checkout must be completed by a factory-designated airframe and power plant (A&P) technician and test pilot before the builder is allowed to fly the aircraft. The factory withholds a few critical components needed for flight, such as the main rotor bearings, which the factory representative brings to the checkout.{{cite web|url=http://www.airspacemag.com/flight-today/build-it-yourself-helicopters-1415177/?all|title=Build-it-Yourself Helicopters}} In order to ensure that prospective pilots have the necessary flight skills, builders must have at least a solo endorsement from a certified flight instructor (CFI) for flying a commercially-built Robinson R22 helicopter.{{Citation needed|date=April 2008}}

The total number of hours accumulated on all Helicycles flying is estimated to be well in excess of 3,000 flight hours, with three fatal accidents, the latest occurring on 28 September 2014 in rural Sumner county, Tennessee.

The NTSB report on the fatal accident indicates extensive damage to the helicopter due to impact with a body of water. An examination of the anti-torque pedal assembly by the NTSB Materials Laboratory revealed that the fracture surface patterns found on it were consistent with a bending overstress separation. It could not be determined whether the overstress condition was the result of a precrash or postcrash event. According to the probable cause report, N3275Q suffered "inflight collision with terrain/water", and "reason for occurrence undetermined - Pilot In Command".{{cite web|url=http://dms.ntsb.gov/aviation/AccidentReports/vv2yei55csbfcenqifmf10na1/R06122011120000.pdf|title=NTSB accident investigation probable cause finding (.pdf)}}{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

There have been several accidents and incidents where Helicycles have lost power in/near hover, resulting in minor damage to the skids and some airframes, but no serious injuries. Most of these were attributed to a radio-frequency interference (RFI) problem with the electronic governor, and the issue was reportedly solved with better shielding in 2005.{{Citation needed|date=April 2008}} At least one accident may have been caused by a crack in a fuel line due to lack of mechanical support between a manifold and a fuel injection port.{{Citation needed|date=April 2008}} Another accident involved flight into high-voltage power distribution wires, but the aircraft was able to fly again, following repairs, and the pilot was not seriously injured.

{{Aircraft specs

|prime units? = kts

|ref=Eagle R&D{{cite web|url=https://www.helicycle.com/specifications|title=Helicycle Specs|accessdate=2021-05-09|publisher=}}

|crew= one

|capacity=351 lb (159 kg)

|length ft= 20

|length in= 10

|length m= 6.35

|span ft= 19

|span in= 10

|span m= 6.05

|height ft= 7

|height in= 4

|height m= 2.23

|wing area sqft= 308

|wing area sqm= 28.6

|empty weight lb= 500

|empty weight kg= 227

|max takeoff weight lb= 850

|max takeoff weight kg= 386

|eng1 name= Solar T62-T32

|eng1 type= turboshaft

|eng1 number= 1

|eng1 shp= 150

|eng1 kw= 112

|max speed kts= 96

|max speed mph= 110

|max speed kmh= 177

|cruise speed kts= 83

|cruise speed mph= 95

|cruise speed kmh= 153

|range nmi= 140

|range miles= 160

|range km= 257

|ceiling ft= 21,000

|ceiling m= 3353

|climb rate ftmin= 900

|climb rate ms= 4.6

}}

{{Commons category|Eagle Helicycle}}

• Special Airworthiness Certificate
• RotorWay International

{{Aircontent

|related=

|similar aircraft=

|lists= *List of single seat helicopters

}}

{{Reflist}}

{{refbegin}}

• [http://www.eaa25.org/onfinal/eaa252004-07.pdf EAA Chapter 25 July 2004 newsletter article describing Ami Sela's Helicycle construction project]
• [http://dms.ntsb.gov/aviation/AccidentReports/vv2yei55csbfcenqifmf10na1/R06122011120000.pdf NTSB accident investigation probable cause finding (.pdf)]{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070929101051/http://ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20040505X00557&key=1 Helicycle N3275Q NTSB accident investigation probable cause finding]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070929120529/http://ntsb.gov/ntsb/GenPDF.asp?id=SEA04LA074&rpt=fa Helicycle N3275Q NTSB accident investigation factual report]
• [http://www.swaviator.com/html/issueJF03/Helicycle1203.html SW Aviator Magazine article on the Helicycle]
• [http://www.experimentalhelo.com/eh_whoBuildsHelicopters.htm February 2007 "Experimental Helo" magazine on-line article "What Kind of Person Builds a Helicopter?"]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928201709/http://www.kitplanes.com/issues/21_9/exploring/28-1.phtml September 2004 "Kitplanes" magazine article "B.J. Schramm - A Homebuilding Legend"]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928201643/http://www.kitplanes.com/issues/20_12/back_issues/6934-1.phtml December 2003 "Kitplanes" magazine article (p. 7) "First Solar T-62 Turbines Available for Helicycle"]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20050309133743/http://www.pra73.net/NewslettersPDF/OnlineSep2003_NL.pdf September 2003 "The Great Northwest Sport Rotorcraft Association" newsletter observations of the turbine-powered Helicycle, and discussions with factory-designated checkout technician and test pilot Doug Schwochert]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928201632/http://www.kitplanes.com/issues/20_2/back_issues/7014-1.phtml February 2003 "Kitplanes" magazine article (p. 15) "It's Turbine Time for the Helicycle"]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928201626/http://www.kitplanes.com/issues/19_1/back_issues/6703-1.phtml January 2002 "Kitplanes" magazine article (p. 81) "Miracle Machine? B.J. Schramm's Helicycle may rewrite the standards on homebuilt helis"]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070208064504/http://www.nweaa.org/Judging/Judging2001.cfm 2001 EAA Arlington Fly-In Judging Results - Helicycle N3275Q voted Grand Champion Rotorcraft]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928201649/http://www.kitplanes.com/issues/17_2/back_issues/6284-1.phtml February 2000 "Kitplanes" magazine news item (p. 4) "Around the Patch: What's up with the Helicycle?"]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070508180524/http://www.eaa.org/benefits/sportaviation/index.html October 1997 "Experimental Aircraft Association Sport Aviation" magazine (p. 46) B.J. Schramm's Helicycle Motorcycle of the Air]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928201620/http://www.kitplanes.com/issues/14_10/back_issues/5486-1.phtml October 1997 "Kitplanes" magazine news item (p. 88) "The Business Side: A new compound helicopter flies in Idaho (Helicycle)"]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928201715/http://www.kitplanes.com/issues/12_10/back_issues/4845-1.phtml October 1995 "Kitplanes" magazine news item (p. 4) "Around the Patch: Helicycle, new kit from B. J. Schramm"]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928201637/http://www.kitplanes.com/issues/24_2/builder_spotlight/7788-1.phtml "Kitplanes" magazine 2007 Aircraft Directory]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928201606/http://www.kitplanes.com/issues/23_2/annual_directory3/7431-1.phtml "Kitplanes" magazine 2006 Light-Sport Aircraft and Rotorcraft Directory ]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928201703/http://www.kitplanes.com/issues/22_2/homebuilt/1070-1.phtml "Kitplanes" magazine 2005 Trikes, 'Chutes and Rotorcraft Directory]

{{refend}}

• [https://helicycleventures.com Helicycle Ventures LLC factory site]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927195118/http://www.eaa.org/homebuilders/list/Helicycle_Sled.asp Experimental Aircraft Association page about Tom Sled's Helicycle N3722T] — completed during the centennial year of the celebration of the Wright brothers' first flight. Sled's first Helicycle flight occurred within five minutes of the 100th anniversary of the Wright's first flight on 17 December 1903.

Category:1990s United States civil utility aircraft

Category:1990s United States helicopters

Category:Homebuilt aircraft

Category:Aircraft first flown in 1997