Safety considerations for helicopter roll on takeoffs

A six-degree-of-freedom simulation of helicopter roll on takeoff is used for evaluation of a twin-engine helicopter continued takeoff trajectory, following one engine failure. For this study, an AH-64A Apache was used. The simulation is used for the determination of the required runway length that will enable safe continued takeoff using the remaining engine's power. Apreliminary optimization was carried out for the definition of the liftoff airspeed and critical decision point height that minimize the required runway length.