touchdown autorotations a guide to crashing gently

Touchdown AutorotationsA Guide to Crashing Gently

Instructor

• Captain Mike Becker• Chief Flight Instructor

at Becker Helicopters• 15,000 hours • Day, Night, NVG, IFR,

Multi• 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• Teacher• Keep the class on

topic• 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, positively2. Look outside – Horizon

• Attitude – 60 kts – Cyclic

• Keep straight – pedals3. Turn into wind and pick a

spot.

Enter

Descent

Checks

Descent Checks:

1. N1 – Engine idling2. NR – Rotor RPM in the

green3. Balance4. Speed5. Mayday call6. Trouble checks and secure

aircraft7. Passenger Brief

Enter

Descent

Checks

Decision Height:

Passing through 500 feet, the instructor needs to decide:1. Go around2. Power termination3. Full touchdown Auto

Decision

Height

Enter

Descent

Checks

Flare75-

100ft

Flare:

What does the flare do?1. Reduces speed2. Reduces rate of descent

Three flare effects:3. ?4. ?5. ?

Decision

Height

Decision

Height

Enter

Descent

Checks

Flare75-

100ft

Let’s take a closer look at what is happening…

Let’s take a closer look at what is happening…

Plane of RotationRate of Descent

AirflowRelative Airflow

Let’s take a closer look at what is happening…

Plane of RotationRate of Descent

AirflowRelative Airflow

Angle ofAttack

Total Rotor Thrust

Total Rotor Thrust

Let’s take a closer look at what is happening…

Plane of RotationRate of Descent

AirflowRelative Airflow

Angle ofAttack

Total Rotor Thrust

Vertical

Weight

HorizontalTotal Rotor Thrust

Let’s take a closer look at what is happening…

Plane of RotationRate of Descent

AirflowRelative Airflow

Angle ofAttack

Total Rotor Thrust

Total Rotor Thrust

Vertical

Weight

Horizontal

Let’s take a closer look at what is happening…

Plane of RotationRate of Descent

AirflowRelative Airflow

Angle ofAttack

Total Rotor Thrust

Total Rotor Thrust

Vertical

Weight

Horizontal

Plane of Rotation

Rate of DescentAirflow

Relative AirflowAngle ofAttack

Let’s take a closer look at what is happening…

Plane of RotationRate of Descent

AirflowRelative Airflow

Angle ofAttack

Total Rotor Thrust

Total Rotor Thrust

Vertical

Weight

Horizontal

Plane of Rotation

Rate of DescentAirflow

Relative AirflowAngle ofAttack

Total

Rotor

Thrust

Total

Rotor

Thrust

Flare:

What does the flare do?1. Reduces speed2. Reduces rate of descent

Three flare effects:3. ?4. ?5. ?

Increase in Rotor Thrust

Let’s take a closer look at what is happening…

Flare:

What does the flare do?1. Reduces speed2. Reduces rate of descent

Three flare effects:3. Increase in total rotor thrust4. ?5. ?

Plane of RotationRate of Descent

AirflowRelative Airflow

Angle ofAttack

Total Rotor Thrust

Total Rotor Thrust

Vertical

Weight

Horizontal

Plane of Rotation

Rate of DescentAirflow

Relative AirflowAngle ofAttack

Total

Rotor

Thrust

Vertical

Weight

Horizontal

Total

Rotor

Thrust

Thrust reversal

Flare:

What does the flare do?1. Reduces speed2. Reduces rate of descent

Three flare effects:3. Increase in total rotor thrust4. Thrust reversal5. ?

Total Rotor Thrust

Plane of RotationRate of Descent

AirflowRelative Airflow

Angle ofAttack

Total Rotor Thrust

Vertical

Weight

Horizontal

Vertical

Weight

Horizontal

Total

Rotor

Thrust

Plane of Rotation

Rate of DescentAirflow

Relative AirflowAngle ofAttack

Total

Rotor

Thrust

Increase in Rotor RPM

Enter

Descent

Checks

Flare75-

100ftDevelo

p

Hold

Flare:1. Develop2. Hold

Decision

Height

Enter

Descent

Checks

Develop

Hold

Initial10ft

Flare75-

100ft

Flare:1. Develop2. Hold3. Initial

Decision

Height

Plane of Rotation

Rate of DescentAirflow

Relative AirflowAngle ofAttack

Total

Rotor

Thrust

Plane of RotationRate of Descent

AirflowRelative Airflow

Angle ofAttack

Total Rotor Thrust

Total Rotor Thrust

Vertical

Weight

Horizontal

Vertical

Weight

Horizontal

Total

Rotor

ThrustRate of Descent

Airflow

Plane of Rotation

Relative Airflow

Angle ofAttack

Total Rotor Thrust

Rate of DescentAirflowPlane of Rotation

Relative AirflowAngle ofAttack

Total

Rotor

Thrust

Let’s take a closer look at what is happening…

Rate of DescentAirflowPlane of Rotation

Relative AirflowAngle ofAttack

Total

Rotor

Thrust

Rate of DescentAirflow

Plane of Rotation

Relative Airflow

Angle ofAttack

Total Rotor Thrust

Vertical

Weight

Horizontal

Total

Rotor

Thrust

Total Rotor Thrust

Vertical

Weight

Horizontal

Plane of RotationRate of Descent

Airflow

Plane of Rotation

Relative Airflow

Let’s take a closer look at what is happening…

Rate of DescentAirflowPlane of Rotation

Relative AirflowAngle ofAttack

Total

Rotor

Thrust

Rate of DescentAirflow

Plane of Rotation

Relative Airflow

Angle ofAttack

Total Rotor Thrust

Rate of DescentAirflow

Plane of Rotation

Relative Airflow

Vertical

Weight

Horizontal

Total

Rotor

Thrust

Total Rotor Thrust

Vertical

Weight

Horizontal

Angle ofAttack

Total

Rotor

Thrust

Let’s take a closer look at what is happening…

Total

Rotor

Thrust

Rate of DescentAirflowPlane of Rotation

Relative AirflowAngle ofAttack

Total

Rotor

Thrust

Rate of DescentAirflow

Plane of Rotation

Relative Airflow

Angle ofAttack

Total Rotor Thrust

Rate of DescentAirflow

Plane of Rotation

Relative Airflow

Vertical

Weight

Horizontal

Total

Rotor

Thrust

Total Rotor Thrust

Vertical

Weight

Horizontal

Angle ofAttack

Total

Rotor

Thrust

Vertical

Horizontal

Total

Rotor

Thrust

Weight

Let’s take a closer look at what is happening…

Enter

Descent

Checks

Flare

Develop

Hold

Initial10ft

Level5ft

Flare75-

100ft

Flare:1. Develop2. Hold3. Initial4. Level

Decision

Height

Weight

Plane of Rotation

Rate of DescentAirflowPlane of Rotation

Relative AirflowAngle ofAttack

Total

Rotor

Thrust

Rate of DescentAirflow

Plane of Rotation

Relative Airflow

Angle ofAttack

Total Rotor Thrust

Rate of DescentAirflow

Plane of Rotation

Relative Airflow

Vertical

Weight

Horizontal

Total

Rotor

Thrust

Total Rotor Thrust

Vertical

Weight

Horizontal

Angle ofAttack

Total

Rotor

Thrust

Vertical

Total Rotor Thrust

Total Rotor Thrust

Horizontal

Total

Rotor

Thrust

Let’s take a closer look at what is happening…

Enter

Descent

Checks

Flare75-

100ftDevelo

p

Hold

Initial10ft

Level5ft

Sink

Pull to Cushio

n

Flare:1. Develop2. Hold3. Initial4. Level5. Sink6. Pull to cushion on7. Keep straight8. Lock cyclic – neutral or

slightly forward9. Once stopped, lower

collectiveDecisio

n Height

Enter

Descent

Checks

Flare75-

100ftDevelo

p

Hold

Initial10ft

Level5ft

Sink

Pull to Cushio

n

Decision

Height