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Quizzes > Quizzes for Business > Technology

Take the Helicopter Systems Knowledge Test

Assess Your Rotorcraft Systems Knowledge Now

Difficulty: Moderate
Questions: 20
Learning OutcomesStudy Material
Colorful paper art depicting a helicopter for a systems knowledge test quiz.

Ready to sharpen your helicopter systems expertise? This helicopter systems quiz guides aviation enthusiasts and students through critical rotorcraft hydraulics, flight controls and avionics scenarios. Whether prepping for certification or brushing up on rotorcraft systems, participants will gain valuable insights and confidence in system operations. Questions are fully customizable in our quizzes editor so trainers and instructors can adapt content easily. For more advanced avionics challenges, explore the Aircraft Systems Knowledge Test or dive into digital components with the Embedded Systems Knowledge Test.

What component stores hydraulic fluid in a helicopter hydraulic system?
Reservoir
Pump
Actuator
Filter
The hydraulic reservoir stores the fluid for the system. The pump circulates fluid while the actuator uses it to move components, and the filter removes contaminants.
Which control input primarily changes rotor blade pitch collectively?
Collective lever
Pedals
Cyclic stick
Throttle
The collective pitch lever changes the pitch angle of all rotor blades equally to vary lift. Pedals control tail rotor thrust, cyclic tilts the rotor disc, and throttle modulates engine power.
In a standard helicopter, which component transmits power from the engine to the main rotor?
Transmission gearbox
Tail rotor drive shaft
Hydraulic pump
Generator
The transmission gearbox takes engine torque and reduces RPM to levels suitable for the main rotor. The tail rotor drive shaft powers the tail rotor and other accessories.
What is the primary function of the cyclic flight control?
Tilt rotor disc to control direction
Increase overall lift
Adjust engine speed
Control rotor RPM
The cyclic control changes the pitch of rotor blades cyclically as they rotate, tilting the rotor disc and allowing directional control. Collective changes overall lift.
If an avionics display fails to power on, what is the first maintenance action to perform?
Check circuit breakers
Replace the display unit
Update software
Calibrate sensors
A blown circuit breaker is often the simplest cause of no power. Verifying electrical supply prevents unnecessary component replacement.
Which type of hydraulic pump is most commonly used to provide variable flow in helicopter flight control systems?
Variable displacement piston pump
Gear pump
Vane pump
Fixed displacement piston pump
Variable displacement piston pumps adjust flow based on system demand, improving efficiency and reducing heat. Gear and fixed pumps provide constant flow regardless of requirement.
In rotorcraft, the swashplate assembly is used to:
Convert pilot inputs into blade pitch changes
Increase engine output torque
Damp vibration
Store hydraulic fluid
The swashplate translates pilot cyclic and collective inputs into pitch changes on each rotor blade. It does not produce torque or damp vibrations directly.
The freewheeling unit in a helicopter transmission allows:
Main rotor to autorotate if engine power is lost
Engine to overspeed during descent
Stabilize tail rotor speed
Divert oil flow
The freewheeling unit decouples the engine from the rotor system during failure, enabling rotor autorotation. It prevents engine drag from slowing the rotors.
During avionics troubleshooting, if a VHF radio transmits but does not receive, the most likely cause is a faulty:
Antenna
Speaker
Microphone
Power bus
A bad antenna or connection can block received signals while allowing RF to be transmitted. Speaker and microphone issues affect audio, not the RF link.
Dissymmetry of lift in rotor blades occurs because:
The advancing blade has higher relative airspeed than the retreating blade
The retreating blade experiences more lift
All blades have equal lift in forward flight
The tail rotor counters lift dissymmetry
In forward flight, the blade moving into the relative wind has higher airspeed and thus more lift compared to the retreating blade. This must be compensated by blade flapping.
Before performing maintenance on a hydraulic actuator, the technician should:
Relieve system pressure
Drain fuel tanks
Remove rotor blades
Calibrate instruments
Relieving hydraulic pressure is critical to prevent fluid spray or component movement. Other steps are not directly related to hydraulic actuator maintenance.
The torque meter installed between the engine and main transmission measures:
Engine output torque to monitor power delivery
Rotor blade twist
Hydraulic pressure
Fuel flow rate
The torque meter senses shaft twist proportional to torque, allowing pilots to monitor engine power output and ensure safe operation.
A rigid rotor blade exhibits lead-lag motion primarily due to:
Coriolis forces from flapping motion
Gyroscopic precession
Airflow separation
Hydraulic resonance
As blades flap, the moment of inertia changes and Coriolis forces generate in-plane lead-lag motion. This is independent of precession.
In helicopter avionics, if the attitude indicator is gyro-powered and shows a drift after startup, the pilot should:
Allow stabilization time before flight
Reset the circuit breaker immediately
Shut down the system
Ignore it; attitude indicators never drift
Mechanical gyro instruments require spin-up time to stabilize; allowing drift to settle is standard. Resetting breakers may interrupt power and increase drift.
Blade coning angle increases when:
Lift on the blades increases relative to centrifugal force
Forward speed increases
Mass balance is removed
Tail rotor thrust increases
Increased lift causes blades to bend upward, increasing the coning angle if centrifugal force is unchanged. Other factors do not directly affect coning.
The main advantage of a variable displacement hydraulic pump over a fixed displacement pump in flight control systems is:
Ability to adjust flow rate to match system demand, reducing heat and power loss
Simpler mechanical design for less maintenance
Provides higher fixed pressure regardless of demand
Eliminates need for fluid reservoir
Variable displacement pumps deliver only the required flow, minimizing excess heat and load on the engine. Fixed pumps cannot adjust and waste energy when demand is low.
In a rotorcraft flight control servo, what is the role of the feedback circuit?
To sense output position and adjust input for precise control
To filter hydraulic fluid contaminants
To isolate electrical noise
To regulate engine RPM
The feedback circuit monitors actuator position and ensures the actual output matches the pilot's command. This closed-loop system maintains accurate control responses.
When analyzing a helicopter transmission ratio, if the engine gear rotates at 6000 rpm and the main rotor gear is driven at 300 rpm, what is the gear reduction ratio?
20:1
2:1
10:1
200:1
The reduction ratio is calculated by dividing engine speed by rotor speed: 6000 rpm ÷ 300 rpm = 20:1. This ensures appropriate rotor speed while allowing high engine RPM.
A helicopter experiencing ground resonance is most likely to have:
A damaged or improperly damped landing gear, allowing dynamic coupling with blade lead-lag motions
Engine compressor stall
Hydraulic fluid contamination
Tail rotor vibration
Ground resonance arises when oscillations from the rotor system couple with the landing gear's natural frequency. Proper damping in the gear and correct blade lead-lag motion prevent it.
In rotor blade dynamics, the twist distribution along the blade span is designed to:
Optimize lift across the span by reducing angle of attack toward the tip
Increase tip weight for stability
Maintain a constant chord length
Store aerodynamic energy
Blade twist ensures that inner sections with slower relative speed have higher angles of attack, while tips have reduced angles to prevent stall and equalize lift.
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Learning Outcomes

  1. Identify hydraulic system components in helicopters
  2. Explain rotorcraft flight control functions
  3. Analyze powerplant and transmission relationships
  4. Evaluate avionics system troubleshooting steps
  5. Demonstrate rotor blade dynamics understanding
  6. Apply safety considerations in system maintenance

Cheat Sheet

  1. Hydraulic System Essentials - Helicopter hydraulics rely on pumps, actuators (servos), reservoirs, and accumulators working in harmony to lighten the pilot's workload and smooth control inputs. If the hydraulics fail, the helicopter doesn't turn into a brick - just expect tougher stick feels and a bit of a workout. Keeping an eye on pressure gauges can save you from surprise muscle strain! Flight Study: Helicopter Hydraulics
  2. Mastering Flight Controls - Collective pitch, throttle, antitorque, and cyclic pitch all join forces to let you climb, yaw, pitch, and roll at will - think of them as your four magical levers of flight. Each one must be tuned and coordinated for a smooth performance. Nail these controls and you'll feel like an alchemist of the skies! Britannica: Helicopter Control Functions
  3. Powerplant & Transmission Teamwork - The engine churns out power while the transmission splits it between the main and tail rotors, giving the helicopter its lift and directional mojo. Imagine a power party where everyone needs to share the punch bowl - balance is everything. Without a healthy gearbox, you might as well be spinning your wheels! Britannica: Engine & Transmission
  4. Hydraulic Hiccups & Fixes - Leaks, pump hiccups, or accumulator quirks can lead to sticky controls or a total loss of assist. Quick visual checks, pressure gauge readings, and reservoir level monitoring are your best first steps. A practiced troubleshooting flowchart will have you back in smooth-flight mode in no time. SkyBrary: Hydraulic Systems
  5. Rotor Blade Dynamics - Concepts like gyroscopic precession turn applied forces into movements that lag by 90 degrees, which can feel like magic if you don't learn the rule. Imagine poking a spinning wheel to see which way it throws you - that's precession in action. Understand this and you'll predict your helicopter's dance moves! Quizlet: Flight Control Flashcards
  6. Maintenance & Safety First - Proper scheduled checks, lubrication, torque inspections, and adherence to service bulletins keep your helicopter healthy and your flight crew safe. Skipping steps may shave minutes off your routine but could cost hours in downtime - or worse. Safety isn't a chore; it's your best co-pilot! SkyBrary: Hydraulic Systems
  7. Swashplate Magic - This mechanical marvel converts your cyclic and collective inputs into precise blade pitch changes via rotating and stationary discs - your rotor's secret handshake. It lets you climb, descend, and tilt in any direction with ninja-like precision. Think of it as the magic mirror that reflects your every command! Quizlet: Flight Control Flashcards
  8. Rotorhead Rundown - Whether articulated, semi-rigid, or rigid, the rotorhead type dictates how blades flap, lead, and lag to handle lift changes and gusts. Each design has its perks - flexibility versus simplicity versus control authority - so choose your mechanical wings wisely. Knowing their quirks makes both flying and maintenance a breeze! Wikipedia: Rotorhead
  9. Tail Rotor Know-How - The tail rotor bucks the engine's torque to stop you spinning like a top, giving you yaw control and directional stability. Side winds or a damaged blade can still send you into a spin - so tail rotor health is non-negotiable. Keep those gear teeth clean and balanced for steady steering! Britannica: Tail Rotor Function
  10. Autorotation Survival Skill - When the engine quits, autorotation lets upward airflow through the blades keep them spinning so you can glide in for a safe landing. It's like surfing an invisible air wave - manage rotor RPM and collective pitch to trade energy at just the right moment. Practice this lifesaving maneuver until it's second nature! Quizlet: Flight Control Flashcards
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