A little different than my usual videos – now that I am back instructing in the R22 and R44 again I don’t have much time to make new videos, but this one was a spur of the moment thing while doing some R44 180 autorotation training.
It is one of my first 180 autorotations in the R44 for a while, student asks to film it…I figure good or bad it can be a teaching moment. See how it worked out in the short video below:
R44 180 Autorotation – Helicopter Flight Maneuvers Video
As a student completes their Private Pilot Certificate, the next rating to work on is usually the Instrument Rating and that is often done in the R44. To be able to act as PIC in the R44 helicopter, a pilot needs certain training, as outlined in SFAR 73 (see our guide to SFAR 73) and that usually involves 180 degree autorotations like this one.
There is a certain amount of adjustment when doing autorotations in the R44 compared to the R22:
- R44 glides further in the autorotation
- R44 rotor RPM decay & recovery is slower
- R44 engine RPM recovery at the end of the auto is slower (start throttle roll on sooner)
- R44 is longer – don’t strike the tail in an R22-sized low flare!
More Info
Check out all our Helicopters Maneuvers with the FAA Practical Test Standards (PTS) requirements for each maneuver for Private and Commercial Helicopter Pilot certificates.
Check out our SFAR 73 Explained article.
Feedback
Do you have any tips on 180 autos, and autos in the R44? Or maybe you instruct – tell us how you teach autos in the R44. Use the comments form below, and thanks for your feedback.
