IMSAFE and PAVE for helicopter pilots
One quick way to remember all the things that you are responsible for as you prepare for a flight is the FAA acronyms PAVE and IMSAFE. P-...
Full down or actual helicopter auto-rotations
We practice auto rotations for the day it really happens. Some pilots may be lucky enough to never experience a real emergency. I have...
Auto-rotations with power recovery
The process of landing a helicopter without the engine is called auto-rotation. This is the process of removing the pitch from the main...
Pressure Altitude/ Density Altitude
Your in and out of ground effect hover ceiling is found in your POH by applying the pressure/ density altitude for the day, combined with...
Helicopter Student Supply List
As a new student, I would recommend the following items to get started with your journey. 1. Current Far/Aim 2. Pilot Log Book 3. E6B 4....
Settling With Power/ Vortex Ring State
You must understand a helicopter emergency called settling with power, vortex ring state, or settling in your own down wash. You must...
Stuck Tail Rotor Pitch
A type of helicopter tail rotor emergency involving a mechanical failure is "stuck pitch or stuck pedal". This means that a linkage or...
Loss of Tail Rotor Thrust
One type of tail rotor emergency in a helicopter is a total loss of tail rotor due to a mechanical failure. This could be a broken shaft,...
Loss of Tail Rotor Effectiveness
The helicopter tail rotor is needed to counter the thrust of the main rotor system. One type of emergency that can happen, causing the...
Low G in the helicopter can be fatal
If you get light in the seat due to abrupt forward cyclic input or turbulence, it is very important to recover the helicopter with gentle...
Helicopter blade coning
Helicopter main rotor blades are designed to "cone" up in flight. The blades are held rigid by the centrifugal force imposed with the...
low RPM recovery
In a helicopter, RPM (rotations per minute) is life! A helicopter pilot must understand how to recognize low RPM and have the automatic...
Retreating Blade Stall
Helicopters experience unequal lift across the rotor system since there is an advancing blade and a retreating blade. This is called...
Helicopter Height Velocity Diagram
It is important to locate and understand the height velocity diagram for the helicopter you will be training in. The "shaded area" is the...
Dynamic Rollover
New students and experienced pilots alike need to continually be cautious on the helicopter "pick up". A rushed pickup could lead to a...
Pendular Action in a helicopter
Pendular action is simple if you just think of a pendulum. The helicopter swinging from the rotor head is the same thing. To get the...
Helicopter Take Off
Lets consider the inputs that a pilot must make in order to make a straight take off, outside of the height velocity diagram shaded area....
Effective Translational Lift
ETL in a helicopter can be simply put as "the helicopter rotor system is operating in clean air and is more efficient". That may be...
Translating Tendency
Helicopter translating tendency is not a big deal, but it is just something you have to know and be able to describe to the examiner...


