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  • Chapter 7: Helicopter Performance › The Effect of Weight Versus Density Altitude › Hovering Performance

    Hovering Performance Helicopter performance revolves around whether or not the helicopter can be hovered. More power is required during the hover than in any other flight regime. Obstructions aside, if a hover can be maintained, a takeoff can be made ... especially with the additional benefit of translational lift. Hover charts are provided for in ground effect (IGE) hover and out of ground effect (OGE) hover under various conditions of gross weight, altitude, temperature, and power. The IGE hover ceiling…

  • Chapter 2: Aerodynamics of Flight › Hovering Flight

    Hovering Flight Hovering is the most challenging part of flying a helicopter. This is because a helicopter generates its own gusty air while in a hover, which acts against the fuselage and flight control surfaces. The end result is constant ... helicopter where it is required to be. Despite the complexity of the task, the control inputs in a hover are simple. The cyclic is used to eliminate drift in the horizontal plane, controlling forward, backward, right and left movement…

  • Chapter 9: Basic Flight Maneuvers › Hovering—Rearward Flight › Technique

    Common Errors 1. Exaggerated movement of the cyclic, resulting in overcontrolling and erratic movement over the surface. 2. Failure to use proper antitorque pedal control, resulting in excessive heading change. 3. Failure to maintain desired hovering height. 4. Failure ... maintain proper rpm. 5. Failure to make sure the area is clear prior to starting the maneuver. Hovering—Rearward Flight Rearward hovering flight may be necessary to move the helicopter to a specific area when the situation is such that…

  • Chapter 9: Basic Flight Maneuvers › Hovering—Sideward Flight › Technique

    straight ground track, use two reference points in line and at some distance in front of the helicopter. Failure to use proper antitorque pedal control, resulting in excessive heading change. 3. Failure to maintain desired hovering height. 4. Failure ... maintain proper rpm. 5. Failure to maintain alignment with direction of travel. Hovering—Sideward Flight Sideward hovering flight may be necessary to move the helicopter to a specific area when conditions make it impossible to use forward flight. During…

  • Chapter 9: Basic Flight Maneuvers › Hovering › Common Errors

    Common Errors 1. Tenseness and slow reactions to movements of the helicopter. 2. Failure to allow for lag in cyclic and collective pitch, which leads to overcontrolling. It is very common for a student to get ahead of the helicopter ... helicopter to respond. Confusing attitude changes for altitude changes, which results in improper use of the controls. 4. Hovering too high, creating a hazardous flight condition. The height velocity chart should be referenced to determine the maximum skid height…

  • Chapter 11: Helicopter Emergencies and Hazards › System Malfunctions › Antitorque System Failure

    antitorque failure with a high-power setting at a low airspeed results in a severe spinning to the right. At low power settings and high airspeeds, the spin is less severe. High airspeeds tend to streamline the helicopter and keep ... from spinning. If a tail rotor failure occurs, power must be reduced in order to reduce main rotor torque. The techniques differ depending on whether the helicopter is in flight or in a hover, but ultimately require an autorotation…