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-   -   stuck left pedal in hover: what do you do? (https://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/219035-stuck-left-pedal-hover-what-do-you-do.html)

SilsoeSid 27th June 2017 21:57

Stuck left pedal ...

... use the right one :rolleyes:

Ascend Charlie 28th June 2017 00:53


instructor used clockwise movements of the cyclic and pumped the collective
Did he, perchance, have only 100 hours more time than you?

Weads 28th June 2017 01:18

How would drag on the main rotor affect the spin?

Weads 28th June 2017 01:42

the rotor turns counter clockwise. its a robbie

Vertical Freedom 28th June 2017 02:42


Originally Posted by Weads (Post 9813937)
my instructor used clockwise movements of the cyclic and pumped the collective to slow down the rate of left turn. What do these do that they would decrease the rate of turn? Thanks

With Mr Bean as Your instructor nothing surprises :eek: Stirring the pot don't do diddly squat for the rate of rotation :ugh: I dare say Your instructor has a huge amount of ego to Peel off before he kills someone, or teaches someone to unwittingly F up :=

Weads 28th June 2017 02:58

I'm obviously not the first to be taught this. stuck left pedal in hover: what do you do? [Archive] - PPRuNe Forums

dimit 28th June 2017 04:53

Pull collective to increase torque and stop the rotation. Stir the cyclic to shed lift and start descending. Pump the collective to reduce lift and continue descending without starting to spin again. (Actually, in this phase the collective stays down more than up so that you descend, and you pump it up to control the rotation.) Stop stirring the stick when you get close to the ground to avoid dynamic rollover. Set 'er down on a collective down stroke. That's how we do it here in the wilds of Northern Alberta where there's nothing but swamp and boreal forest as far as the eye can see.

Practice with an instructor!

Ascend Charlie 28th June 2017 09:45

Read what Weads put up:
If stuck in a gentle left pedal turn in the hover:
a. roll off a little throttle. Turn will initially speed up and acft wants to sink - hold off the ground with lever. More torque but lower TR RPM, turn will slow down, maybe even stop.
b. If still turning, repeat.
c. when turn stops, allow bird to sink slowly to ground.

As Helmet Fire said in the archive, it is aircraft specific. Works on some. Roof-mounted throttles are a bit trickier to make it work if you don't have anybody up front with you.

SASless 28th June 2017 12:30

Analyze the cause of the problem using the evidence and situation.

The root cause is excess thrust being produced by the tail rotor (if Left turning Rotor.....insufficient thrust if Right turning Rotor) for the situation laid out by the original post.

Reducing RPM cures one (left turning
) by reducing Tail Rotor thrust, lowering the Collective reduces Toque in the other.....and rotation should decrease in either case.

If the rotation remains excessive for a safe landing....fly away and make an approach using minimum RPM and maintain forward speed until within a foot or so of the ground and decelerate until the aircraft is aligned with the movement alocross the ground or at a hover.....and land (left turning Rotor).

Understanding all factors that pertain to Torque control beyond just the Pedals is the key. Just as far too many fixed Wing Pilots fail to know what the Rudder can do on an airplane.....far too many helicopter pilots fail to fully understand "torque" in helicopters.

Right turning Rotor.....fly away and make an approach and running landing using least torque possible....or autorotation expecting some rotation at touchdown.

SASless 28th June 2017 12:42


Originally Posted by dimit (Post 9814452)
Pull collective to increase torque and stop the rotation. Stir the cyclic to shed lift and start descending. Pump the collective to reduce lift and continue descending without starting to spin again. (Actually, in this phase the collective stays down more than up so that you descend, and you pump it up to control the rotation.) Stop stirring the stick when you get close to the ground to avoid dynamic rollover. Set 'er down on a collective down stroke. That's how we do it here in the wilds of Northern Alberta where there's nothing but swamp and boreal forest as far as the eye can see.

Practice with an instructor!

If very mild perhaps.....try that with a big boot full of stuck pedal.

One scenario....perform a max power vertical takeoff as if leaving a clearing surrounded by those tall trees you mention.....do not bring your power pedal back...leave it at the most position required to maintain heading.....then try your jiggly stick Procedure....and let us know how you get on.

What I described is a way of getting a realistic "max" pedal input....not just a very small excess.

If all you have to do is roll off a tiny bit of throttle and instantly cure the cause of the problem.....why do the jiggly bit which does nothing to cure the cause of the problem?

[email protected] 28th June 2017 13:21

Sas, I don't think a max power take-off in an R22 is very exciting at all - it just about pulls the skin off a rice-pudding but not much more:)

dimit 28th June 2017 13:53

Good discussion.

Beeping down or rolling off throttle can be very effective, and that's why I like to keep it in reserve. I like the idea of keeping some tricks in my bag, just in case. Also, it's a lot harder on those ships that don't have a twist throttle. I'm a simple man, so I like to keep my initial responses as similar as possible across types.

Weads 28th June 2017 14:30


Originally Posted by dimit (Post 9814452)
Pull collective to increase torque and stop the rotation. Stir the cyclic to shed lift and start descending. Pump the collective to reduce lift and continue descending without starting to spin again. (Actually, in this phase the collective stays down more than up so that you descend, and you pump it up to control the rotation.) Stop stirring the stick when you get close to the ground to avoid dynamic rollover. Set 'er down on a collective down stroke. That's how we do it here in the wilds of Northern Alberta where there's nothing but swamp and boreal forest as far as the eye can see.

Practice with an instructor!

Exactly the concise answer I was looking for! Question though : does stirring the stick in a clockwise motion which is opposite or the rotor spin create another gyroscopic force which opposes the spin? Swashplate is moving clockwise while rotor is counter clockwise thus helping to slow the spin?

[email protected] 28th June 2017 14:38


another gyroscopic force
it's not a gyroscope, it's a rotor, so no.

Weads 28th June 2017 15:29


Originally Posted by [email protected] (Post 9814967)
it's not a gyroscope, it's a rotor, so no.

I thought it was a far stretch so thank you! So if I'm correct cyclic stirring does absolutely nothing to slow the rate of turn directly or indirectly correct? My understanding is that it only makes the rotor system less efficient so we can keep lost of power (torque) in and still descend correct?

albatross 28th June 2017 16:46

When doing training I would wait until the victim did a little bit of a "Hotdog" takeoff and jam the pedal. The results were a good lesson. I am refering to recurrent training and not flying with lowtime students.
Doing circuits for autos was the prime time because after 3 or 4 full ons the guy was having fun and wanted to get back upstairs in a hurry. Also by this time we were usually light on fuel with lots of power available.
Did some training with Bell and they had a very good method of recovery.

ShyTorque 28th June 2017 16:51

Unfortunately, "Rolling off throttle" isn't an easy option on many modern helicopters, where the engines are computer controlled.

SASless 28th June 2017 18:16


Originally Posted by [email protected] (Post 9814881)
Sas, I don't think a max power take-off in an R22 is very exciting at all - it just about pulls the skin off a rice-pudding but not much more:)

Of "Robbie's" I am completely not knowing ....beyond upon seeing one I have an immediate craving for a double cheeseburger and giant order of French fries , a Big Gulp soda followed by a huge Banana Split for dessert!

All that to ensure I cannot fit through the door of one ever!

[email protected] 29th June 2017 06:23

Shame the CAA examiner who did my type rating check on it 35 years ago didn't think finding it difficult to get in the door was a bar to examining on it.....straight to AUM:E

Hughes500 29th June 2017 13:28

The only thing stirring the stick will do is to "effectively reduce the apparent total rotor thrust ". So the helicopter will descend from a perfect hover if you stir it. However you will need to stir more and more as you approach the ground due to increased ground cushion effect.


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