AUTOROTATION WITH POWER RECOVERY

6JJ · Maneuver Study Card
5:00
5 minutes down — keep going?

Purpose

To enter and perform an autorotation in the event of an engine failure, engine fire, drive system failure, SWP, LTE, or ditching.

Objectives

  • To enter by transiting from downward airflow to upward airflow.
  • To glide to the target.
  • Recovery to a hover over the target.

Performance standards

65 kts, 100% RPM glide ±5 KIAS.
40' AGL flare ±5'.
8' AGL deep flare ±2'.
The Profile
1Straight & level — cross check
2Entering
  • Aft cyclic to maintain the same attitude by looking at the horizon.
  • Full down collective for flat pitch to avoid blade stall.
  • Right pedal to center trim strings.
3Gliding
  • Up collective ~1 inch as passing 95% rotor RPM to maintain the rotor green arc.
  • 65 KIAS with cyclic.
  • Use pedals to center trim strings.
4At 40' AGL → flare
  • Aft cyclic to reduce vertical and horizontal speed to a proper descent rate and RPM.
  • Up collective if RPM goes to 110% to avoid overspeed.
  • Up collective causes a climb and hard landing.
  • Down collective causes faster descent and tail strike or hard landing.
5At 8' AGL → power recovery & level
  • Gentle roll on throttle to engine RPM green.
  • Too fast causes engine overspeed.
  • Simultaneously up collective to maintain 5'.
  • Left pedal for straight.
  • Forward cyclic to level.
  • Left cyclic to counter the right drifting tendency.
  • Too slow recovery: hard landing, rotor stall, SWP.
6Hovering at 5'
RPM Control & Technique

Adjust and wait

  • Make a small adjustment, then wait for the needle to stabilize.
  • Do not move collective pitch until rotor RPM is on the desired RPM — avoid chasing the needle.

Primary RPM control = collective

  • Up collective: pitch angle increases, drag increases, RPM decreases.
  • Down collective: pitch angle decreases, drag decreases, RPM increases.

Factors affecting RPM

  • Turning bank.
  • Wind.
  • Fore-aft cyclic (flare, deceleration).
  • Up-down collective.
  • Air density.

Max glide distance in the R22

  • 90% RPM — low RPM has a slower VSI.
  • 75 KIAS — faster speed glides further.

Common errors

  • Initiating recovery too late, requiring rapid controls.
  • Failure to obtain and maintain a level attitude near the surface.
  • Failure to coordinate throttle and collective, resulting in engine overspeed or low rotor RPM.
  • Failure to coordinate pedals with the power increase.
  • Late engine power engagement causing excessive temps or torques, or RPM droop.
  • Failure to go around if not within limits.