Which term describes a rotorcraft flight condition in which the lifting rotor is driven entirely by action of the air when the rotorcraft is in motion?

Which term describes a rotorcraft flight condition in which the lifting rotor is driven entirely by action of the air when the rotorcraft is in motion?

• A. Autoration
• B. Auxilliary Rotor
• C. Balloon
• D. Calibrated Airspeed

Answer: (A)

Autorotation is the flight condition where the lifting rotor is driven entirely by the relative wind through the rotor as the aircraft moves, not by engine power. In this state, air flowing upward through the rotor disc keeps the blades turning, so the rotor speed is maintained without power from the engine, allowing a controlled descent and landing. The pilot manages lift and rotor RPM by adjusting the blade pitch with the collective and using the descent path to maintain safe rotor speed. Other terms don’t describe this situation: an auxiliary rotor refers to an additional rotor system, balloons are not rotorcraft, and calibrated airspeed is simply a speed measurement, not a flight condition.

Autorotation is the flight condition where the lifting rotor is driven entirely by the relative wind through the rotor as the aircraft moves, not by engine power. In this state, air flowing upward through the rotor disc keeps the blades turning, so the rotor speed is maintained without power from the engine, allowing a controlled descent and landing. The pilot manages lift and rotor RPM by adjusting the blade pitch with the collective and using the descent path to maintain safe rotor speed. Other terms don’t describe this situation: an auxiliary rotor refers to an additional rotor system, balloons are not rotorcraft, and calibrated airspeed is simply a speed measurement, not a flight condition.