Helicopter quiz: Summer 2025–26

Answer the following questions after reading Deadly power of the ring, with reference to the FAA’s Helicopter Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-21B) and Airbus helicopters Safety Information Notice (SIN) No 3463-S-00.

1. What flight conditions make the helicopter susceptible to vortex ring state?
   1. descent rate at or above 300 fpm, power applied and airspeed greater than effective translational lift
   2. level flight with power to maintain and the airspeed decreasing through ETL
   3. descent rate at or above 300 fpm, power applied and airspeed less than effective translational lift
   4. autorotative descent with airspeed less than effective translational lift
2. What do the symptoms of vortex ring state include?
   1. pitching and rolling
   2. airframe vibrations
   3. sluggish control response
   4. all of the above
3. What is the traditional vortex ring state recovery technique?
   1. increase airspeed by applying forward cyclic and/or partially lower collective to exit the vortex
   2. decrease airspeed by applying aft cyclic and/or increase collective to climb out of the vortex
   3. increase airspeed by applying forward cyclic and checking or increasing collective to exit the vortex
   4. increase sidewards velocity by apply lateral cyclic and increasing collective to exit out the side of the vortex
4. What does the updated advice from AIRBUS on traditional vortex ring state recovery technique say?
   1. increase airspeed by applying forward cyclic and/or partially lower collective to exit the vortex
   2. decrease airspeed by applying aft cyclic and/or increase collective to climb out of the vortex
   3. increase airspeed by applying forward cyclic and checking or increasing collective to exit the vortex
   4. increase sidewards velocity by applying lateral cyclic and increasing collective to exit out the side of the vortex.
5. What is the Vuichard vortex ring state technique?
   1. increase airspeed by applying forward cyclic and/or partially lower collective to exit the vortex
   2. increase airspeed by applying forward cyclic and checking or increasing collective to exit the vortex
   3. increase collective to full take-off power, bank the aircraft 15 deg to the left for counterclockwise rotating rotors or to the right for clockwise rotating rotors, while maintaining the heading with pedal
   4. increase collective to full take-off power, bank the aircraft 15 deg to the right for counterclockwise rotating rotors or to the left for clockwise rotating rotors, while maintaining the heading with pedal
6. When does Airbus recommend using the Vuichard technique?
   1. when the traditional technique has not worked
   2. before trying the traditional technique
   3. in specific operational conditions like a downwind final approach or when there are obstacles in front of the helicopter
   4. Airbus do not make any recommendations
7. What is a common fault with the traditional technique recovery?
   1. excessive decrease of collective leading to unnecessary height loss
   2. insufficient forward cyclic delaying exit from the vortex
   3. excessive forward cyclic leading to unnecessary height loss
   4. all of the above
8. What is a common fault with the Vuichard technique recovery?
   1. excessive lateral cyclic leading to unnecessary height loss
   2. failure to maintain heading reducing tail rotor side force that helps to exit the vortex
   3. poor flying of technique due to high workload
   4. all of the above
9. Flying the helicopter in vortex ring state for training:
   1. is approved for all helicopters
   2. may be approved for some helicopters
   3. may reduce the service time of some components of the helicopter
   4. both b & c
10. Which recovery technique has the higher workload to fly, according to EASA and Airbus information?
    1. the traditional technique
    2. the Vuichard technique
    3. they are both the same workload

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