PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Static / Dynamic rollover definitives required...
Old 27th December 2006 | 07:21
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Whirlybird

The Original Whirly
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Joined: Feb 1999
: CPL
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From: Belper, Derbyshire, UK
I don't claim to be an aerodynamics expert either, but this is how I understand it...and explain it to students....

Static Rollover The displacement of the helicopter's C of G causes it to roll over. This will only happen on a very steep slope, estimated for some helicopters to be around 40 degrees! It can happen without any power applied, since it only depends on the displacement of the C of G.

Dynamic Rollover Can occur on very shallow slopes, or even due to mishandling on flat ground. The crucial difference between this and static rollover is that it occurs due to power being applied. When a helicopter is sitting on the ground and power is applied, the Total Rotor Thrust has a horizontal component, which acts about the point of ground contact of the skids. This component is normally very small, and is opposed by the weight of the helicopter. But if one skid lifts off the ground first, the skid in contact with the ground now acts as a pivot point about which the horizontal component of TRT acts. This component increases as more power is applied, causing the helicopter to roll about the skid that is in contact with the ground. Beyond a certain critical angle it is impossible to stop the helicopter turning over, and this angle of bank is quite small, far less than that required for static rollover.

I hope this helps. I hope it's right...but I'm sure the experts will tell me if it's not. I sometimes think...one rotary aerodynamics question, two pilots, three opinions!
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