Pawnee Chief

The Chief was designed to comply with the US Experimental - Amateur-built aircraft rules. It features a single main rotor, a two-bladed tail rotor, two or three-seats-in side-by-side configuration in an enclosed cockpit with a windshield and skid-type landing gear. The standard engine used is a V-8, liquid-cooled, four-stroke, Chevrolet automotive racing powerplant of {{convert|355|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} derated to {{convert|306|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}. The aircraft fuselage is made from welded 4130 steel tubing with a composite cockpit fairing. Its {{convert|30|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} diameter two-bladed rotor is made from carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer. The aircraft has an empty weight of {{convert|1520|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} and a gross weight of {{convert|2400|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}, giving a useful load of {{convert|880|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. With full fuel of {{convert|32|u.s.gal}} the aircraft has a payload for crew and baggage of {{convert|688|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}. The cabin width is {{convert|58|in|cm|0|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|url =http://www.pawneeaviation.com/chief.htm|title =Chief Specifications|access-date = 2 April 2015|website= Pawnee Aviation|date = |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060222005132/http://www.pawneeaviation.com/chief.htm |archive-date = 22 February 2006}}

The Chief was the subject of a protracted development time line. The company explained the long development, "we were determined not to put a product on the market before its time. We have seen other kits sold that did not complete their development and testing. Their customers paid for completion of the development and in reality did much of their testing.. By delaying our availability project until it was truly completed, we will avoid placing unnecessary a lot of "Airworthiness Directives" and flight restrictions on our aircraft."

In December 2005 first kit delivery was forecast for as early as January 2006, with a production rate of eight to ten per month and a first-year production of 50 to 60 kits expected for 2006. In 2005 when the aircraft first flew the company reported having "700 interested customers". The manufacturer estimated the construction time from the supplied kit as 150–200 hours.

The company seems to have gone out of business in late 2008.{{cite web|url = https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.pawneeaviation.com/ |title=Pawnee Aviation |website=Internet Archive Wayback Machine |access-date = 2 April 2015 |date = 23 June 2013}}{{cbignore}}

By April 2015 two examples were registered in the United States with the Federal Aviation Administration, although both registrations had expired. A total of three Chiefs had been registered at one time.{{cite web|url = http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/AcftRef_Results.aspx?Mfrtxt=&Modeltxt=PAWNEE+CHIEF&PageNo=1|title = Make / Model Inquiry Results|access-date = 2 April 2015|website= Federal Aviation Administration|date = 2 April 2015}}

On 28 September 2006 a Chief crashed while hovering, with minor injuries to the pilot and passenger. The National Transportation Safety Board report stated, "The amateur built helicopter impacted the ground during a test flight following the failure of a welded joint at a cyclic control cable bracket resulting in a loss of control authority. A post impact fire ensued, destroying the helicopter. The pilot reported he was in a low hover when the tail came up and the helicopter tilted. One of the skids subsequently caught the ground causing the helicopter to roll over. Examination of the helicopter revealed that a welded joint failed at a cyclic control cable bracket on the main rotor mast. Failure of the welded bracket caused the loss of input control authority from the cyclic control to the main rotor."{{cite web|url = https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/Results.aspx?queryId=e7e76a1c-36c0-4241-b02d-81315441e34e|title = CHI06LA273|access-date = 2 April 2015|website= National Transportation Safety Board|date = 28 September 2006}}

{{Aircraft specs

|ref=Manufacturer and Aero News Network

|prime units?=imp

|genhide=

|crew=one

|capacity=one passenger in a bucket seat or two passengers on a bench seat

|length m=

|length ft=32

|length in=3

|length note=

|width m=

|width ft=

|width in=

|width note=

|height m=

|height ft=8

|height in=2

|height note=

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|empty weight kg=

|empty weight lb=1520

|empty weight note=

|gross weight kg=

|gross weight lb=2400

|gross weight note=

|fuel capacity={{convert|32|u.s.gal}}

|more general=

|eng1 number=1

|eng1 name=Chevrolet

|eng1 type=V-8, liquid-cooled, four-stroke, Chevrolet automotive racing powerplant

|eng1 kw=

|eng1 hp=306

|rot number=1

|rot dia m=

|rot dia ft=30

|rot dia in=0

|rot area sqm=

|rot area sqft=706

|rot area note=

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh=

|max speed mph=

|max speed kts=

|max speed note=

|cruise speed kmh=

|cruise speed mph=85

|cruise speed kts=

|cruise speed note=

|never exceed speed kmh=

|never exceed speed mph=

|never exceed speed kts=

|never exceed speed note=

|range km=

|range miles=250

|range nmi=

|range note=

|endurance=

|ceiling m=

|ceiling ft=10000

|ceiling note=

|g limits=

|roll rate=

|glide ratio=

|climb rate ms=

|climb rate ftmin=1000

|climb rate note=

|time to altitude=

|disk loading kg/m2=

|disk loading lb/sqft=3.4

|disk loading note=

|fuel consumption kg/km=

|fuel consumption lb/mi=

|power/mass=

|thrust/weight=

|more performance=

|avionics=

}}

• List of rotorcraft

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20061130002505/http://www.pawneeaviation.com/DSC01134.JPG Photo of a Pawnee Chief]

{{Pawnee Aviation aircraft}}

Chief

Category:2000s United States sport aircraft

Category:2000s United States helicopters

Category:Homebuilt aircraft

Category:Single-engined piston helicopters

Category:Aircraft first flown in 2005