Touchdown Autorotations A Guide to Crashing Gently

Instructor Captain Mike Becker Captain Mike Becker Chief Flight Instructor at Becker Helicopters Chief Flight Instructor at Becker Helicopters 15,000 hours 15,000 hours Day, Night, NVG, IFR, Multi Day, Night, NVG, IFR, Multi 29 years in the industry 29 years in the industry

Course Aim To discuss and explain the autorotation to a full touchdown.

Course Objectives Entry Descent Flare Termination Questions

Roles My Role Facilitator Facilitator Teacher Teacher Keep the class on topic Keep the class on topic Listen and share experiences Listen and share experiences Your Role Have an enquiring mind Ask questions Stay on topic Participate and share your experiences

Enter Entry: 1.Lower Collective – all the way, positively 2.Look outside – Horizon Attitude – 60 kts – Cyclic Keep straight – pedals 3.Turn into wind and pick a spot. Entry: 1.Lower Collective – all the way, positively 2.Look outside – Horizon Attitude – 60 kts – Cyclic Keep straight – pedals 3.Turn into wind and pick a spot.

Enter Descent Checks Descent Checks Descent Checks: 1.N1 – Engine idling 2.NR – Rotor RPM in the green 3.Balance 4.Speed 5.Mayday call 6.Trouble checks and secure aircraft 7.Passenger Brief Descent Checks: 1.N1 – Engine idling 2.NR – Rotor RPM in the green 3.Balance 4.Speed 5.Mayday call 6.Trouble checks and secure aircraft 7.Passenger Brief

Enter Descent Checks Descent Checks Decision Height: Passing through 500 feet, the instructor needs to decide: 1.Go around 2.Power termination 3.Full touchdown Auto Decision Height: Passing through 500 feet, the instructor needs to decide: 1.Go around 2.Power termination 3.Full touchdown Auto Decision Height

Enter Descent Checks Descent Checks Flare ft Flare ft Flare: What does the flare do? 1.Reduces speed 2.Reduces rate of descent Three flare effects: 1.? 2.? 3.? Flare: What does the flare do? 1.Reduces speed 2.Reduces rate of descent Three flare effects: 1.? 2.? 3.? Decision Height

Enter Descent Checks Descent Checks Flare ft Flare ft Lets take a closer look at what is happening…

Plane of Rotation Rate of Descent Airflow Relative Airflow Lets take a closer look at what is happening…

Plane of Rotation Rate of Descent Airflow Relative Airflow Angle of Attack Total Rotor Thrust Total Rotor Thrust Lets take a closer look at what is happening…

Plane of Rotation Rate of Descent Airflow Relative Airflow Angle of Attack Total Rotor Thrust Vertical Weight Horizontal Total Rotor Thrust Lets take a closer look at what is happening…

Plane of Rotation Rate of Descent Airflow Relative Airflow Angle of Attack Total Rotor Thrust Total Rotor Thrust Vertic al Weight Horizontal Lets take a closer look at what is happening…

Plane of Rotation Rate of Descent Airflow Relative Airflow Angle of Attack Total Rotor Thrust Total Rotor Thrust Vertic al Weight Horizontal Plane of Rotation Rate of Descent Airflow Relative Airflow Angle of Attack Lets take a closer look at what is happening…

Plane of Rotation Rate of Descent Airflow Relative Airflow Angle of Attack Total Rotor Thrust Total Rotor Thrust Vertic al Weight Horizontal Plane of Rotation Rate of Descent Airflow Relative Airflow Angle of Attack Total Rotor Thrust Total Rotor Thrust Flare: What does the flare do? 1.Reduces speed 2.Reduces rate of descent Three flare effects: 1.? 2.? 3.? Flare: What does the flare do? 1.Reduces speed 2.Reduces rate of descent Three flare effects: 1.? 2.? 3.? Increase in Rotor Thrust Lets take a closer look at what is happening…

Flare: What does the flare do? 1.Reduces speed 2.Reduces rate of descent Three flare effects: 1.Increase in total rotor thrust 2.? 3.? Flare: What does the flare do? 1.Reduces speed 2.Reduces rate of descent Three flare effects: 1.Increase in total rotor thrust 2.? 3.? Plane of Rotation Rate of Descent Airflow Relative Airflow Angle of Attack Total Rotor Thrust Total Rotor Thrust Vertic al Weight Horizontal Plane of Rotation Rate of Descent Airflow Relative Airflow Angle of Attack Total Rotor Thrust Vertical Weight Horizontal Total Rotor Thrust Thrust reversal

Flare: What does the flare do? 1.Reduces speed 2.Reduces rate of descent Three flare effects: 1.Increase in total rotor thrust 2.Thrust reversal 3.? Flare: What does the flare do? 1.Reduces speed 2.Reduces rate of descent Three flare effects: 1.Increase in total rotor thrust 2.Thrust reversal 3.? Total Rotor Thrust Plane of Rotation Rate of Descent Airflow Relative Airflow Angle of Attack Total Rotor Thrust Vertic al Weight Horizontal Vertical Weight Horizontal Total Rotor Thrust Plane of Rotation Rate of Descent Airflow Relative Airflow Angle of Attack Total Rotor Thrust Increase in Rotor RPM

Enter Descent Checks Descent Checks Flare ft Flare ft Develop Hold Flare: 1.Develop 2.Hold Flare: 1.Develop 2.Hold Decision Height

Enter Descent Checks Descent Checks Develop Hold Initial 10ft Initial 10ft Flare ft Flare ft Flare: 1.Develop 2.Hold 3.Initial Flare: 1.Develop 2.Hold 3.Initial Decision Height

Plane of Rotation Rate of Descent Airflow Relative Airflow Angle of Attack Total Rotor Thrust Plane of Rotation Rate of Descent Airflow Relative Airflow Angle of Attack Total Rotor Thrust Total Rotor Thrust Vertic al Weight Horizontal Vertical Weight Horizontal Total Rotor Thrust Rate of Descent Airflow Plane of Rotation Relative Airflow Angle of Attack Total Rotor Thrust Rate of Descent Airflow Plane of Rotation Relative Airflow Angle of Attack Total Rotor Thrust Lets take a closer look at what is happening…

Rate of Descent Airflow Plane of Rotation Relative Airflow Angle of Attack Total Rotor Thrust Rate of Descent Airflow Plane of Rotation Relative Airflow Angle of Attack Total Rotor Thrust Vertical Weight Horizontal Total Rotor Thrust Total Rotor Thrust Vertic al Weight Horizontal Plane of Rotation Rate of Descent Airflow Plane of Rotation Relative Airflow Lets take a closer look at what is happening…

Rate of Descent Airflow Plane of Rotation Relative Airflow Angle of Attack Total Rotor Thrust Rate of Descent Airflow Plane of Rotation Relative Airflow Angle of Attack Total Rotor Thrust Rate of Descent Airflow Plane of Rotation Relative Airflow Vertical Weight Horizontal Total Rotor Thrust Total Rotor Thrust Vertic al Weight Horizontal Angle of Attack Total Rotor Thrust Lets take a closer look at what is happening… Total Rotor Thrust

Rate of Descent Airflow Plane of Rotation Relative Airflow Angle of Attack Total Rotor Thrust Rate of Descent Airflow Plane of Rotation Relative Airflow Angle of Attack Total Rotor Thrust Rate of Descent Airflow Plane of Rotation Relative Airflow Vertical Weight Horizontal Total Rotor Thrust Total Rotor Thrust Vertic al Weight Horizontal Angle of Attack Total Rotor Thrust Vertical Horizontal Total Rotor Thrust Weight Lets take a closer look at what is happening…

Enter Descent Checks Descent Checks Flare Develop Hold Initial 10ft Initial 10ft Level 5ft Level 5ft Flare ft Flare ft Flare: 1.Develop 2.Hold 3.Initial 4.Level Flare: 1.Develop 2.Hold 3.Initial 4.Level Decision Height

Weight Plane of Rotation Rate of Descent Airflow Plane of Rotation Relative Airflow Angle of Attack Total Rotor Thrust Rate of Descent Airflow Plane of Rotation Relative Airflow Angle of Attack Total Rotor Thrust Rate of Descent Airflow Plane of Rotation Relative Airflow Vertical Weight Horizontal Total Rotor Thrust Total Rotor Thrust Vertic al Weight Horizontal Angle of Attack Total Rotor Thrust Vertical Total Rotor Thrust Total Rotor Thrust Horizontal Total Rotor Thrust Lets take a closer look at what is happening…

Enter Descent Checks Descent Checks Flare ft Flare ft Develop Hold Initial 10ft Initial 10ft Level 5ft Level 5ft Sink Pull to Cushion Flare: 1.Develop 2.Hold 3.Initial 4.Level 5.Sink 6.Pull to cushion on 7.Keep straight 8.Lock cyclic – neutral or slightly forward 9.Once stopped, lower collective Flare: 1.Develop 2.Hold 3.Initial 4.Level 5.Sink 6.Pull to cushion on 7.Keep straight 8.Lock cyclic – neutral or slightly forward 9.Once stopped, lower collective Decision Height

Enter Descent Checks Descent Checks Flare ft Flare ft Develop Hold Initial 10ft Initial 10ft Level 5ft Level 5ft Sink Pull to Cushion Decision Height