Settling With Power

Front 1

Conditions

Back 1

A vertical or near-vertical descent of at least 300 feet per minute (FPM). Actual critical rate depends on gross weight, rotor RPM, density altitude, and other pertinent factors.

Slow forward airspeed (less than ETL).

Rotor system must be using 20 to 100 percent of the available engine power with insufficient power remaining to arrest the descent.

Low rotor RPM could aggravate this.

Front 2

Conducive conditions

Back 2

Steep approach at a high rate of descent.

Downwind approach.

Formation flight approach (where settling with power could be caused by turbulence of preceding aircraft).

Hovering above the maximum hover ceiling.

Not maintaining constant altitude control during an OGE hover.

During masking/unmasking.

Front 3

Recovery

Back 3

One or combination:

During the initial stage with a large amount of excess power, a large application of collective pitch may arrest rapid descent.

If done carelessly or too late, collective increase can aggravate the situation resulting in more turbulence and an increased rate of descent.

single-rotor helicopters,

use cyclic to gain airspeed and arrest upward induced flow of

air and/or by lowering the collective (altitude permitting).

Normally, gaining airspeed is the preferred method as less altitude is lost.

In tandem-rotor helicopters, fore and aft cyclic inputs aggravate the situation. By lowering thrust (altitude permitting) and applying lateral cyclic input or pedal input to arrest this upward induced flow of air, the aviator can accomplish recovery.