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Flight Test Exercises - Ex. 18 - Autorotations

Aim

To determine that, in the event of an engine failure, the candidate has the ability to make a safe autorotational approach and landing to a suitable landing area.

A.  Engine Failure at Altitude

Description

Engine failure will be simulated, without advance warning, by the examiner in accordance with the method recommended by the manufacturer. While accomplishing the required emergency procedures, the candidate will be expected to use good decision-making and fly a safe approach to a suitable landing area, so that a safe landing could be made if the approach was continued to the ground.

The candidate will be expected to carry out an overshoot when advised to do so by the examiner. Assessment of the overshoot will be based on the correct application of power, establishing a positive rate of climb, and control of airspeed and direction.

Performance Criteria

Assessment will be based on the candidate's ability to react to a simulated engine failure by:

  1. entering autorotation safely without undue loss of rotor RPM;

  2. once established in autorotation, maintaining the rotor RPM and airspeed within the limitations stated in the Helicopter Flight Manual;

  3. selecting a suitable area for landing;

  4. vary airspeed, RPM, and flight profile as necessary to reach the selected landing area;

  5. simulating a "Mayday" call;

  6. controlling the helicopter in autorotation so that a safe landing could be made if the approach was continued to the ground; and

  7. using safe and accurate overshoot procedures, if the approach is not continued to a landing.

B.  Landing or Power Recovery to the Hover/Hover-taxi

Description

The candidate will be required to carry out two autorotations, one of which will include a 180-degree turn, to a pre-selected touchdown zone. The item will be initiated from a height above ground that has previously been assessed as suitable for practice autorotation landings. The autorotation will be commenced from cruise at a safe height, but in no instance lower than 500 feet above ground. The autorotations will terminate, at the discretion of the examiner, in either a landing, or a power recovery to the hover/hover-taxi.

Performance Criteria

Following an autorotational approach to a selected landing area, assessment will be based on the candidate's ability to:

  1. maintain the rotor RPM and airspeed stated in the Helicopter Flight Manual;

  2. vary the flight profile as necessary to reach the selected landing area;

  3. flare in a manner and at a height that is safe and effective for the type of helicopter under the prevailing ground and weather conditions; and

  4. land safely, or recover to the hover/hover-taxi, as directed by the examiner, facing into wind within the pre-selected touchdown zone.

Note:  A full-on autorotation will only be carried out on known suitable landing surfaces.

Date modified:
2010-05-20