SFAR 73 Flashcards
Special Training (Energy Management)
With power-on, this means maintaining safe reserves of potential energy (by staying above 500’ AGL), kinetic energy (by flying at least 60 kias), and inertia (by maintaining correct rotor RPM).
With power-off, this means balancing vertical speed with rotor speed to allow for a safe emergency landing through use of the collective (to change blade pitch) and the cyclic (to control airspeed and flare to slow airspeed and rate of descent).
Special Training (RPM Decay and Low RPM/Blade Stall)
Power-on RPM Decay can occur by death-gripping the throttle, incorrect throttle inputs, abrupt collective movement, pulling too much collective (over-pitching), and engine failure.
Recovery should be done by rolling on the throttle (if possible) and lowering the collective. It is essential to roll on the throttle as just lowering the collective will cause the correlator to reduce the throttle and exacerbate the problem. Aft cyclic (with sufficient airspeed) can also be used to increase rotor RPM. In some conditions the throttle will already be maxed out but good planning and judgement will help to avoid this.
Power-off RPM Decay (engine failure) can occur due to pulling too much collective (over-pitching) or flying under weight minimums.
Recovery can be done by following the needle with the collective.
RPM Decay can lead to Blade Stall with can occur at 80% RPM + 1% per 1000’ DA and is unrecoverable: The helicopter literally falls out of the sky.
See SN-10, SN-24
Special Training (Low G and Mast Bumping)
Low G is the feeling of lightness in the seat. Any strain against the seatbelts indicates critical Low G. It can happen from abrupt forward cyclic movements (cyclic pushovers) or turbulence.
Low G can lead to Mast Bumping which can result in rotor separation and is usually fatal.
When the rotor disk is unloaded in Low G, the helicopter fuselage is free to move and will roll to the right due to tail rotor thrust. It is essential to recover from this by applying gentle aft cyclic to reload the rotor disk and only then correct roll if necessary. If the Low G was the result of turbulence, slow down and depart the area immediately. Land if necessary.
See SN-11, SN-32, and AD???
SFAR 73 Experience & Training Requirements for Soloing
Ground: SFAR 73 Awareness Training.
Flight Training & Aeronautical Experience: 20+ hours including Governor-Off RPM Control, Enhanced Autorotations, Low RPM recognition and recovery, and Low G recognition & recovery (GELL).
The solo endorsement is valid for 90 days.
Soloing Endorsements
SFAR 73 Awareness SFAR 73 Solo SFAR 73 PIC TSA Citizenship Make & Model (R22) Solo Pre-Solo Knowledge Test Pre-Solo Training
