Term
What is vortex ring state and how do you recover |
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Definition
- Descending above 300 ft/min
- At or below ETL
- Rotor eats its own downwash
- Recover forward cyclic and lower collective (must lose altitude), or turn out with lateral cyclic and pedals
- In extreme state, enter autorotation to break the vortex ring then recover out of that
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Term
What is ground resonance and how do you recover? |
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Definition
- Fully articulated rotor system
- Bump or jolt causes asymmetric lagging
- CM of rotor displaced from center of mast, whirl mode can develop rapidly!
- Recover by loading up the rotor system (raise collective)
- PS: If you don't have the rotor RPM to do this, you may be screwed!
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Term
What is retreating blade stall and how do you recover? |
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Definition
- Forward speed lowers the resultant relative wind on the retreating blade, which is flapped down and has a higher AOA, until it stalls.
- Feel low freq vibration, pitch up, and roll into retreating blade
- Recover by lowering collective to lower AOA then slow down via aft cyclic
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Term
What is dynamic rollover and how do you avoid it? |
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Definition
- Pivot around (toward) skid/wheel in contact with ground
- At critical angle 5-8 deg cyclic limit exceeded, will roll
- Easy to get on slope ops, toward upslope skid
- Avoid ops that can catch a skid, use two-step lift off
- Collective most effective at reducing roll, smooth lowering over a second or two (reduces thrust vector)
- Do not dump collective!
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Term
Which direction (left or right) is the critical one for dynamic rollover (CCW rotor) and why? |
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Definition
- Rolling to the right
- Translating tendency (tailrotor thrust) assists in direction of roll
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Term
What is loss of tail rotor effectiveness (LTE) and what are the causes? |
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Definition
- An aerodynamic condition resulting from a control margin deficiency in the tail rotor
- Caused by an alteration in the angle or speed of airflow through the tail rotor, away from optimum
- Main rotor downflow interfering with flow entering tail rotor, worse at high power
- Main blade tip vortices entering tail rotor
- Turbulence affecting flow around tail rotor
- Slow forward speed, where translational thrust (TR) and translational lift (MR) are changing
- Airflow relative to helicopter (see separate card)
- Avoid low and slow flight
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Term
What maneuvers are susceptible to LTE? |
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Definition
- Low and slow flight out of ground effect
- Winds from 9:30 to 11:30 (tip vortex into TR)
- Tailwind altering onset of ETL and translational thrust require higher power and more left pedal
- Hovering in left crosswind
- Low speed downwind turns
- Large changes of power at low airspeeds
- Low speed flight near physical obstructions, buildings
http://www.dynamicflight.com/aerodynamics/loss_tail_eff/ |
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Term
What are some ways to avoid LTE? |
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Definition
- Maintain max rotor RPM
- Avoid tailwinds at airspeeds below 30 knots
- Avoid OGE ops, and high power demand situations at low altitudes, at airspeeds below 30 knots
- Be aware of wind direction when hovering in winds of 8-12 knots, sudden loss of ETL
- Be wary of any situation where large left pedal is needed
- Be careful and make slow right pedal turns
http://www.dynamicflight.com/aerodynamics/loss_tail_eff/ |
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Term
What is the general recovery from LTE? |
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Definition
- Forward cyclic to increase speed
- If altitude permits, reduce power
- As recovery occurs, enter normal forward flight.
- Last-chance: enter an auto, holding left pedal till rotation stops, then fly out of it if possible or land as if engine out
- If low may have to do engine out at hover (hovering auto)
http://www.dynamicflight.com/aerodynamics/loss_tail_eff/ |
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Term
What is ground resonance and what can cause it? |
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Definition
Mechanical condition where main rotor blades get out of phase in the lead/lag axis. Caused by an abrupt force applied to the airframe (run-on landing impact, skid/tire bump). Effect is to displace the center of mass of the rotor system away from mast, causing a whirl mode oscillation.
[image] |
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Term
What can cause tail-rotor vortex ring state (a type of LTE)? |
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Definition
Left crosswind (220-330°) opposes tail rotor thrust, recirculates output air back into the tail rotor. Horizontal equivalent of "settling with power".
[image]
http://www.aviationtoday.com/rw/training/turbine/Ask-Ray-Prouty-Tail-Rotor-Vortex-Ring-State_13637.html#.UXqePbXCZ8E http://www.dynamicflight.com/aerodynamics/loss_tail_eff/ See also The Art of the Helicopter section 5.4 |
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Term
What can cause weathercock instability (a type of LTE)? |
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Definition
Tailwind (120-240°) causes helicopter to weathervane and if no anti-torque input can allow yaw rate to develop and can accelerate rapidly. |
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Term
How do you recover from ground resonance? |
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Definition
- Preferred: Load up the rotor, fly the helicopter off the ground
- Last ditch if low rotor RPM: Close throttle and lower collective to flat pitch. Cross your fingers.
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Term
What can cause main rotor disk interference (a type of LTE)? |
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Definition
Quartering left crosswind (285-315°) 10 - 30 knots causes main rotor tip vortex to be blown into the tail rotor, disrupting tail rotor airflow. |
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Term
What are the three types of LTE? |
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Definition
- Main rotor disc interference
- Weathercock instability
- Tail rotor vortex ring state
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Term
Why are airplane pilots considered "high risk" when flying helicopters? |
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Definition
Airplane pilots' ingrained emergency reactions may lead to deadly reactions in a helicopter. |
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Term
What is a Low G condition? When will it occur? How do you recover? |
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Definition
The main rotor disk unloaded in flight, commonly caused by cyclic "push over", turbulence. Recover with slow and smooth aft cyclic to re-load the rotor. Do not attempt to correct for rolling motion under low G (mast bumping or droop stop pounding) |
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Term
What is low rotor blade stall? What can cause it? How can it be identified? How do you recover? |
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Definition
Main rotor blades fail to produce lift due to insufficient rotor RPM (rotational relative wind). Low frequency vibrations, left yaw, divergent descent. Trick question, there is no recovery. |
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