HELICOPTER FLYING TRAINING SCHOOL

EXAM COACHING – CONTROLS, ROTORS AND TRANSMISSION

1. In a rotor system when the swashplate is tilted forwards:
a. The advancing blade will flap up
b. The advancing and retreating blades will flap up
c. The retreating blades will flap up

2. To compensate for asymmetry of lift, a semi rigid see-saw type tail rotor:
a. Will flap
b. Stops will prevent the blades from flapping
c. The swash plate will alter to allow for flapping

3. A duplicate inspection must be carried out:

a. Not on all helicopter types
b. On some helicopters
c. On all helicopters

4. Mass balancing of the controls:

a. Prevents flutter
b. Assists the pilot
c. Positions the C of G of the blade in the correct place

5. Low frequency vibration is associated with:

a. The main rotor
b. The tail rotor
c. The engine

6. During flight the yaw pedals are used to control:

a. Direction of movement and heading
b. Heading only
c. Heading and to prevent slip and skid

7. Low frequency lateral vibration is caused by:

a. A main blade out of balance
b. A main blade out of track
c. The tail rotor out of balance

8. A helicopter has a minor adjustment made to the flying controls when away from
base. The duplicate-inspection may be carried out by:
a. A pilot with a licence endorsed for the type
b. By any pilot holding a Commercial Licence
c. Only an engineer licenced for helicopters
9. A main rotor becomes unbalanced, would you experience:
a. Low frequency vibration
b. Medium frequency vibration
c. High frequency vibration

10.A freewheel is fitted in the transmission to:

a. Relieve torsional stresses in the gearbox and rotor drive when starting up and
accelerating
b. Isolate the main rotor from the engine and tail rotor
c. Prevent the rotor driving the engine

11.A helicopter rotor head with two blades hinged about a central gimbal is:
a. Fully articulated
b. Semi-rigid see-saw
c. Rigid

12.Mass balance is:

a. An arrangement whereby a part of the aerofoil protrudes beyond the hinge
line
b. An arrangement whereby a weight is positioned on the other side of
the hinge to the aerofoil
c. An arrangement whereby a weight is positioned on the aerofoil side of the
hinge to prevent flutter

13.A fully articulated head is one where:

a. The rotor blades are free to drag and flap
b. The rotor blades are free to feather, flap and drag
c. The blades are free to flap only

14.A high frequency vibration indicates:

a. Main rotor out of balance
b. Tail rotor out of balance
c. Main rotor out of track

15.The tail rotor is driven:

a. By a belt drive from an auxiliary gearbox
b. From the main transmission gearbox
c. Directly through a differential

16.With an anti-clockwise rotating rotor, if when at the hover you apply left rudder:
a. The tail rotor blades decrease pitch allowing the torque to turn the aircraft
b. The tail rotor blades increase pitch overcoming torque reaction
causing yaw
c. The tail rotor blades increase in pitch allowing torque to turn the aircraft
17.A flapping hinge is:
a. One which allows for movement of the blade in the vertical plane
b. One which allows the blade to move in a horizontal plane during its cycle of
rotation
c. One which allows the blade to move horizontally thus maintaining correct
rotor R.P.M.

18.A drag hinge:

a. Allows a blade to move in the horizontal plane to compensate for
acceleration and deceleration tendencies caused by; coriolis effect,
periodic drag changes, and varying axes of rotation, thus reducing
stresses at the root end
b. Allows the blades to move in the vertical plane and reduces stresses in the
blade by increasing lift and drag
c. Enables the disc to be tilted in the direction of cyclic control input by flapping

19.A main blade out of track will give:

a. A low frequency lateral vibration
b. A medium frequency vertical vibration
c. A low frequency vertical vibration

20.Drag hinges are fitted to:

a. Allow the blades to flap due to differences in the resultant force of lift and
weight
b. Prevent undue fatigue at the blade roots
c. Compensate for dissymmetry of lift

21.Rotor blades are designed with twist or taper to:

a. Allow for acceleration and deceleration tendencies at the blade root
b. Allow for differential pressures along the blade
c. Provide a constant lift distribution along the span

22.The rotors are free to rotate in autorotation by fitting:

a. A clutch between engine and transmission
b. A freewheel unit between the engine and transmission
c. A clutch and freewheel unit between the engine and transmission

23.On application of collective, the blades:

a. Are advanced by moving the leading edges in a plane relative to the rotor
mast
b. Move about their longitudinal axis
c. Are moved differentially in the plane of rotation around the mast
24.Increasing pitch collectively:
a. Increases the pitch angle of the blades to a maximum when crossing the
longitudinal axis
b. Increases the pitch equally on all rotor blades
c. Causes the disc to tilt and so permits forward flight

25.The range of movement of the controls is limited by:

a. Aerodynamic forces on the blade
b. One set of fixed stops
c. Primary and secondary stops

26.After a helicopter has undergone work on its control:

a. The work must be inspected and certified by the person qualified to
carry out the work and inspected and certified by a second qualified
person
b. The work must be inspected by the person who did the work, then inspected
by another and afterwards certified by the person who did the work
c. The work must be inspected by the person who did the work and then
certified by another

27.Controls are given a duplicate inspection after:

a. Flying in turbulence
b. A heavy landing
c. They have been disturbed by damage repair or new parts fitted

28.The following are permitted to carry out the second part of a duplicate
inspection:
a. A pilot authorised by the chief pilot
b. An engineer with an ‘O’ rating or a flight navigator
c. A maintenance engineer with the aircraft category or a pilot/flight
engineer with a type rating

29.A turnbuckle is in safety when:

a. The inspection holes are closed
b. The inspection holes are open
c. A minimum of three threads are seen at each end

30.Control cables are adjusted to:

a. Provide correct tensile strength
b. Operate at a pre-calculated friction without regard to temperature
c. Allow for feel and temperature changes with altitude
31.When changing from the hover to forward flight the swashplate is moved so that
the pitch operating arm starts to move up:
a. On the left side of the swashplate
b. On the right side of the swashplate
c. Either (a) or (b) since it depends on the main rotor direction of
rotation

32.On a particular helicopter type the swashplate tilts in the direction of cyclic
movement. When flying sideways to starboard:
a. The swashplate is tilted to the right
b. The swashplate is tilted to the left
c. The swashplate is tilted in the horizontal plane

33.Opening the throttle without changing collective lever setting results in:
a. An increase in M.P. and rotor R.P.M.
b. An increase in rotor R.P.M. and no change in M.P.
c. An increase in M.P. and a decrease in rotor R.P.M.

34.When collective lever is raised without moving the throttle:

a. The M.P. increases and rotor R.P.M. tend to decrease
b. The M.P. decreases and rotor R.P.M. tend to decrease
c. The M.P. increases and rotor R.P.M. tend to increase

35.The anti-torque rotor system of light helicopters is usually:

a. Rigid
b. Semi-rigid
c. Fully articulated

36.Movement of the collective lever will move:

a. All blades equally in pitch
b. All blades cyclically in pitch
c. The advancing blade only in pitch

37.A fully articulated rotor blade fitted to a helicopter will permit:

a. Flapping and dragging only
b. Flapping in response to cyclic only
c. Flapping, dragging and feathering

38.Collective pitch control is used to:

a. Turn all the blades equally about the vertical axis
b. Change blade pitch progressively during one revolution
c. Turn all the blades equally about their longitudinal axes
39.A control rod end is out of safety if:
a. A wire of the hole diameter can be passed through the inspection
hole
b. A wire of the hole diameter cannot be passed through the inspection hole
c. A wire of any diameter can be passed through the inspection hole

40.If you move the controls they reach:

a. Primary and secondary stops together
b. Primary stops first, secondary stops still having a clearance
c. Secondary stops first followed by primary stops

41.Control locks on helicopters are fitted:

a. When flying in extreme turbulence
b. When on the ground to protect the helicopter structure from
damage during strong winds or in gusty conditions
c. So that a duplicate inspection will not be necessary after repair of a control
system

42.A control is fitted with aerodynamic balance:

a. To assist the pilot
b. To decrease the drag when the control surface is moved
c. To prevent flutter

43.A turnbuckle is in safety when:

a. Three threads or more are visible at each end
b. It is wire locked so it cannot turn
c. Three threads or less are visible at each end

44.It is permissible to fly the aircraft after:

a. All ice and snow is removed from the aerofoil surfaces
b. All ice is removed, snow may remain as it will blow off in flight
c. All snow must be removed, but a thin coat of ice may remain as air will slide
easily over the surface

45.To moor the main rotor blades:

a. The mooring attachment should be secured to the tail rotor
b. A rope lashed around the rotor is secured to any attachment strong point
c. End caps for all rotor blades must be secured to an attachment of
sufficient tensile strength
46.Locknuts on turnbuckles are:
a. Nuts which are screwed tight against the turnbuckle with a positive
lock against unscrewing
b. Nuts provided with split pins
c. Nuts provided with a friction clamp

47.A dual inspection is always carried out after:

a. Any major adjustment has been made
b. Any inspection to a flying or engine control is due
c. Any adjustment to vital points or control systems

48.Main gearbox lubrication on piston engined helicopters:

a. May be integral with the engine system
b. Is always a separate system
c. Provides oil for the hydraulics

49.The rotor brake is provided:

a. For manual parking of the blades
b. To prevent overspeeding in autorotation
c. To prevent rotor overspeed in powered flight

50.The intermediate gearbox is situated:

a. Between the engine and the main gearbox
b. Between the main gearbox and lower gearbox
c. Between the main gearbox and tail rotor gearbox

51.If a cyclic input is held on when a collective input is made:

a. All the blades change pitch equally
b. The blades will not change pitch
c. Only the blades subjected to a cyclic input will change pitch

52.When the throttle is closed, if the engine and rotor R.P.M. decrease slowly
together:
a. The clutch and freewheel units are unserviceable
b. The clutch and freewheel units are responding correctly
c. The freewheel unit is unserviceable

53.Control cable direction is altered by:

a. Bell cranks
b. Pulleys
c. Pushrods
54.On a main rotor, the flapping hinge may be offset:
a. To improve cyclic control response
b. To increase control movement
c. To reduce lift dissymmetry

55.On a rigid head dragging takes place:

a. About the drag hinge
b. There is no drag hinge fitted
c. By movement which is restricted by a hydraulic damper

56.On a helicopter with a synchronized Stabilator, which way will it move when the
cyclic is moved forward:
a. Upwards
b. Upwards or downwards
c. Downwards

57.Trim tabs on rotor blades are positioned:

a. On the trailing edge towards the root
b. On the trailing edge towards the tip
c. On the leading edge towards the tip

58.Movement of the flying controls is limited by:

a. Droop restrainers
b. Droop and flapping restrainers
c. Primary and secondary stops

59.The main rotor swashplate is used for:

a. Collective pitch changes only
b. Cyclic pitch changes only
c. Both cyclic and collective pitch control

60.Centre of gravity limits are increased by the use of:

a. Offset hinges
b. C.G. close to the rotor
c. Wide undercarriage

61.The delta three hinge is employed to increase:

a. Lift
b. Manoeuverability
c. Stability
62.Blade counterweights are sometimes used in order to reduce:
a. The feathering moment due to C.T.M.
b. The aerodynamic pitching moment
c. The effort needed to reduce the pitch angle

63.Tail rotor thrust is controlled by varying:

a. R.P.M.
b. Gear ratio
c. Pitch

64.The swashplate system comprises:

a. Two rotating stars
b. One star rotating with the rotor and one engine driven star
c. One rotating star and one fixed star

65.If during the hover the collective lever is moved up, the pitch angle of each main
blade will increase:
a. Independently as each blade passes the longitudinal axis
b. Simultaneously producing uniform rotor thrust
c. To prevent excessive coning of the blades

66.The cyclic pitch control varies the main rotor pitch in order to control:
a. Attitude and direction of movement
b. Altitude
c. Dissymmetry of lift and tail rotor roll

67.A rotor head swashplate:

a. Allows for the effects of phase lag
b. Reduces the amplitude of control inputs to the rotor
c. Transmits control inputs to the rotating assembly

68.A main rotor blade tracking check verifies:

a. That the neutral control settings have not changed
b. The coning angle
c. That all blades have the same tip path plane

69.The Collective Pitch Control functions:

a. To change the pitch angle of each blade by the same amount and to
adjust the throttle butterfly by ‘Cam’ arrangement at the same time
b. To change the pitch angle of each blade by different amounts and to tilt the
rotor head
c. To control tail rotor blade pitch angle
70.The Twist Grip Throttle:
a. Enables small changes of power to be made without any change of
pitch and to balance the rotor R.P.M.
b. Enables the pitch angle to be increased or decreased
c. Is used to balance the rotor R.P.M. by small adjustments of rotor disc attitude

71.The function of the Cyclic Pitch Control is:

a. To make continuous variations of pitch of the main rotor blades
throughout the complete cycle of 360 degrees
b. To make continuous variations of pitch of the main rotor blades when
retreating
c. To change the pitch angle of each blade the same number of degrees

72.The function of the Tail Rotor:

a. Is to balance the main rotor torque reaction by controlling the tail
rotor pitch
b. Is to decrease main rotor pitch to prevent yaw
c. Is to increase the main rotor pitch and to balance rotor R.P.M.

73.For a rotor rotating anti-clockwise seen from above, moving the cyclic control
stick to the right results in:
a. No noticeable pitch change on the retreating blade
b. The retreating blade flapping up following a pitch increase
c. The retreating blade flapping down following a pitch increase

74.In the case of a clockwise rotating rotor (as seen from above) when changing
from hover to forward flight, the pitch control swashplate (with 90° advance
angle) is moved so that the Pitch Operating Arm starts to move upward from its
lowest point:
a. On the left hand side of the swashplate
b. On the right hand side of the swashplate
c. At the front of the swashplate

75.In autorotation the rotor is allowed to rotate freely:

a. By fitting a clutch between the engine and transmission
b. By fitting a free wheel unit between the engine and transmission
c. By fitting a gearbox between the engine and transmission
76.On a helicopter with folding rotor blades, a duplicate inspection must be carried
out:
a. Daily
b. Whenever the rotor head or other part of the control system is modified or
repaired
c. Whenever the blades are unfolded and when the rotor head or other
parts of the flying control system are disturbed

77.Rotor blade flap stops:

a. Prevent excessive flapping in gusts at low R.P.M.
b. Prevent excessive coning in flight
c. Limit ground resonance

78.‘Fenestron’ is the name given to a device used to:

a. Clear rain from windshield
b. Apply pitch trim moments in forward flight
c. Balance the main rotor torque reaction

79.A rotor swash plate:

a. Allows for the effects of phase lag only when collective pitch is applied
b. Reduces the amplitude of control inputs to the rotor
c. Transmits control inputs to the rotating main rotor assembly

80.A main rotor blade tracking check verifies:

a. That the neutral control settings have not changed
b. The coning angle
c. That all blades have the same tip path plane

81.A clutch is fitted in a helicopter transmission in order to:

a. Permit the engine to be started without excessive static loading
b. Prevent the rotors from being turned by the wind
c. Permit the main rotor to rotate freely during autorotation

82. Correct tensioning of control cables provides:

a. Compensation for temperature change in a cable run
b. Artificial ‘feel’ in a powered control system
c. Full and free movement with no friction

83.The tail rotor overcomes main rotor torque reaction by collectively changing
pitch:
a. Independently of the main rotor control system
b. From the main transmission through a tail rotor clutch
c. In step with main rotor pitch changes
84. A manual engine power control is installed to regulate:
a. Main rotor R.P.M.
b. Airspeed
c. Main rotor blade pitch angle

85.A ground track check is carried out:

a. With low r.p.m. and cyclic locked at zero pitch
b. With power on and varying collective setting
c. With high power and flat pitch

86.A shrouded tail rotor:

a. Allows pitch as well as yaw control
b. Does away with the need to alter tail rotor pitch, as fin and rudder can be
used
c. Decreases need for attendant pitch control due to decreased
dissymmetry of lift

87.Movement of the rotor blades about the head is:

a. Limited by primary straps
b. Droop stops
c. Droop stops and flapping restrainers

88.The fixed and rotating scissors mechanisms:

a. Drives the driven half of the swash plate plus vertical movement on
the fixed half
b. Joins the two halves together
c. Drives both halves of the swash plate

89.A freewheel unit:

a. Allows the rotor drive to turn without turning the engine
b. Allows the engine to be off loaded during start up
c. Allows the rotor drive to turn without turning the engine and off loads the
engine

90.A rigid rotor allows:

a. No dragging to take place
b. Dragging by tilting the rotor hub
c. Flapping and dragging in this installation is achieved by bending in
the appropriate sense
91.Cyclic feathering control of a rotor head is achieved by:
a. Tilting the swash plate
b. Movement of the collective sleeve
c. A cyclic feathering hinge (Delta 3 hinge effect)

92.On a semi-rigid seesaw rotor head the feathering hinge allows:

a. Both cyclic and collective control
b. Change of collective only
c. Cyclic control only

93.The mechanism by which the main rotor blades pitch is decreased when a blade
flaps up is a measure of:
a. Cyclic feathering overcoming dissymmetry of lift
b. Excessive coning during collective inputs
c. Delta hinge effect

94.In a rigid head the blades:

a. Do not drag or flap at all
b. All movements are achieved by the total movement of the rotor hub
c. The blades flex to achieve dragging and flapping

95.With co-axial main rotor blades:

a. No tail rotor blades are necessary
b. Two tail rotor blades are required
c. Co-axial main rotors are an impossibility

96.There is an interconnecting link between:

a. Cyclic and Yaw
b. Cyclic and collective
c. Collective and Yaw

97.Rotor trim tabs:

a. Are adjusted for some tracking
b. Cannot be adjusted
c. Are not fitted with adjustable pitch change rods
98.In a free turbine engine rotorcraft installation:
a. There is no need for a clutch between engine and transmission
b. There must be a clutch between engine and transmission
c. There must be a freewheel between compressor and turbine

99.The tail rotor requires:

a. Cyclic pitch control only
b. Both cyclic and collective pitch control
c. Collective pitch control only

100. A combination of droop stops and flap restrainers is usually associated with:
a. A fully articulated rotor head used for all rotor rev/min conditions
b. Rigid rotor head for low rev/min conditions
c. A fully articulated rotor head and is only for low rotor rev/min or
stationary conditions

101. Scissors mechanisms on the swash plate assembly are used to:
a. Join the two halves of the swash plate assembly
b. Transmit the drive from gear box through the swash plate assembly to the
rotor head
c. Drive the driven swash plate and fix the stationary swash plate

102. To allow the blades to rotate freely in autorotation:

a. A free-wheel unit is fitted between engine and rotor system
b. A clutch is fitted between engine and rotor system
c. A clutch and free wheel unit are fitted between engine and rotor system

103. In a gas turbine powered helicopter (Free turbine):

a. There is a free-wheel unit (F.W.U.) between compressor and turbine
b. There is no need for a clutch
c. There is no need for F.W.U.

104. Rotor R.P.M. are reported as being low in autorotative flight

a. An adjustment, cyclic nose up, should be made
b. An adjustment, cyclic nose down, should be made
c. An adjustment, collective pitch down, should be made

105. Shrouded tail rotors:

a. Significantly reduce dissymmetry of lift and the attendant need for
cyclic pitch changes
b. Allow pitch control via an elevator
c. Allow heading to be altered via a fin and rudder
106. Trim tabs:
a. Are not fitted when there are adjustable P.O.A.‘s
b. May be adjusted for some tracking
c. May not be adjusted

107. Adjustment of blade tracking:

a. Ensures that the neutral control settings have not changed
b. Removes blade imbalance problems
c. Ensures all blades follow the same tip path plane

108. A blade out of track:

a. Results in uneven hover attitudes
b. Results in a vibrating main rotor, low frequency
c. Results in a vibrating main rotor, high frequency

109. The tail rotor is:

a. Driven by the main transmission gear box
b. Driven independently
c. Driven by the main transmission gear box via a T.R. clutch

110. In autorotation the tail rotor:

a. Is likely to stop rotating altogether
b. Will continue as it autorotates independently
c. Will continue as it is driven by the main rotor transmission gearbox

111. Washout is an effect:

a. Blade pitch angle is greater at the tips than the root
b. Blade pitch angle is greater at the root than the tip
c. Blade pitch is greater mid-span than tip or root

112. In a semi-rigid teetering rotor, the stability can be improved by:

a. Delta-three hinge
b. Preset coning angle
c. A rotating mass

113.