Translating tendency is the helicopter's drift direction, and how is it corrected?

Translating tendency is the helicopter's drift direction, and how is it corrected?

• A. It drifts in the direction of the tail rotor thrust and requires aileron input.
• B. It drifts in the direction of the main rotor thrust and requires pedal input.
• C. It drifts randomly and cannot be corrected.
• D. It drifts in the direction of tail rotor thrust and is compensated with pilot input.

Answer: (D)

Translating tendency is the helicopter’s tendency to drift horizontally in the direction of the tail rotor’s thrust. The tail rotor provides anti-torque by pushing on the tail, which creates a yawing moment. At low airspeed or in hover, this yaw tendency tends to push the fuselage sideways, so the aircraft appears to drift in the tail-rotor-thrust direction. The correct remedy is to use the anti-torque pedals to produce yaw in the opposite direction, counteracting the drift and keeping the nose pointed where you want. Ailerons affect roll, not heading, and the main rotor thrust isn’t what causes this sideways drift in hover, so those ideas don’t properly address the correction.

Translating tendency is the helicopter’s tendency to drift horizontally in the direction of the tail rotor’s thrust. The tail rotor provides anti-torque by pushing on the tail, which creates a yawing moment. At low airspeed or in hover, this yaw tendency tends to push the fuselage sideways, so the aircraft appears to drift in the tail-rotor-thrust direction. The correct remedy is to use the anti-torque pedals to produce yaw in the opposite direction, counteracting the drift and keeping the nose pointed where you want. Ailerons affect roll, not heading, and the main rotor thrust isn’t what causes this sideways drift in hover, so those ideas don’t properly address the correction.