Helicopters have many rotating parts and vibrations are inevitable. But sudden increased or new vibrations can lead to catastrophic failure of components.
Helicopter vibrations can be broken down into the following by frequency:
- Low
- Medium
- High
The low frequency vibrations are usually associated with the main rotor system and can be further broken down by:
- Lateral
- Vertical
Video
The video below goes into more detail regarding helicopter vibrations:
Resources
- FAA Helicopter Flying Handbook Chapter 11 – Helicopter Emergencies and Hazards
- Robinson R22 Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) Section 10 – Safety Tips and Notices
- Robinson R22 Maintenance Manual Chapter 10 – Rigging, Track and Balance
- AOPA Accident Analysis – Inflight Vibrations
- AOPA Hover Power – Vibration Analysis
- Aviation Pros – Helicopter track and balance theory
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