Definitions
A tail rotor failure is the complete loss of the tail rotor due to mechanical failure (as opposed to loss of tail rotor effectiveness, which is an aerodynamic condition, or a stuck pedal, which results in left- or right-ward thrust produced by the tail rotor).
Objective(s)
Recognize when the tail rotor has failed and understand the correct recovery procedure.
Description
- Recognition of a tail rotor failure
- Recovery from a tail rotor failure
Instructional aids
- R22 Pilot’s Operating Handbook, Emergency Procedures
Recognition
- Failure is usually indicated by an uncommanded nose-right yaw
Avoidance and recovery
- Immediately enter an autorotation
- Maintain airspeed (70 KIAS, if possible)
- At low power settings and high airspeed (70 KIAS), the aircraft may remain in trim long enough to fly to a suitable landing site
- Perform an autorotation to the landing site
- Roll the throttle into the overtravel spring during the autorotation to prevent rightward yaw when cushioning the hover autorotation landing
Real-life advice and experience
- Note that loss of the tail rotor gear box can have a dramatic effect on the helicopter’s CG, possibly causing an extreme nose-down attitude
Additional resources
- [R44 Tail Rotor Loss] An R44 makes a successful landing after the tail rotor is damaged; from the Summer 2008 RHC Newsletter