Definitions

A left stuck pedal is a condition where too much nose-left thrust is being produced by the tail rotor, causing uncontrollable leftward yaw.

Objective(s)

Recognize the signs of a left stuck pedal and understand the recovery procedure.

Description

• Recognition of stuck left pedal
• Recovery procedure

Instructional aids

• Lucky Left -- Rotten Right

Recognition

• A stuck left pedal is most likely to be recognized during high-power configurations (eg, during departure or transitioning from a maximum performance take-off)
• As power is reduced, an uncommanded left yaw will develop (cannot be corrected with right pedal)

Avoidance and recovery

• Procedure 1--Landing without enough power to hover
  • The power setting during the departure phase produces a no-yaw condition--the goal is to match this power setting during the landing
  • This may be enough power to establish a hover, or to keep the aircraft aligned with the ground track for a run-on landing
  • Maintain airspeed (eg, 60 KIAS) and fly a low pattern; the nose will be yawed left
  • Decelerate during the approach using aft cyclic
  • Apply collective to decelerate, maintain altitude, and alignment with the ground track
  • With the nose aligned, allow the aircraft to make ground contact

  Procedure 2--Landing with enough power to hover

  • If the helicopter is completely decelerated and at 2-5′ AGL, landing can be accomplished by slowly lowering the collective
  • Throttle can be adjusted to maintain alignment (reducing engine RPMs will decrease the TR thrust)
  • Landing with a right crosswind can help counteract the excessive left yaw

Real-life advice and experience

• None specified

Additional resources

Note that this looks like a Eurocopter, which uses a clockwise-rotating MR. The left yaw at the termination of the landing may indicate that he had the equivalent of a stuck right pedal.