ACS Alignment

FAA-S-ACS-16 — Commercial Pilot, Rotorcraft–Helicopter · Area of Operation VI. Performance Maneuvers · Task: B & C — Straight-In Autorotation; Autorotation with Turns

CH.VI.B.S1 — straight-in autorotation to a spot CH.VI.C.S1 — autorotation with turns CH.VI.B.K1 — autorotative aerodynamics & rotor RPM control CH.VI.B.R1 — entry, airspeed/RPM management & flare timing

⚑ FLAG (Walter): combines Tasks B (Straight-In Autorotation) and C (Autorotation with Turns) — confirm codes and that all entry/airspeed/RPM figures come from the R44 POH.

Autorotations — Straight-In & With Turns

Land safely with the engine out — enter promptly, fly the airspeed/RPM, and time the flare.

By the end of this lesson you can:

Explain autorotative flow and how the descending air keeps the rotor turning with the engine disengaged.
Enter an autorotation promptly: lower collective, set airspeed, manage rotor RPM, and pick a spot.
Fly a straight-in autorotation and an autorotation with turns to the intended landing area.
Time the flare and cushion the touchdown, maintaining heading and rotor RPM throughout.

1 · Autorotative flight

If the engine fails, the freewheeling unit lets the rotor keep turning, driven by air flowing up through the disc as the helicopter descends. You trade altitude for rotor energy. The keys are an immediate collective reduction to preserve rotor RPM, the correct autorotative airspeed, and keeping rotor RPM in the green with collective. Pick a landing spot and manage your glide to it.

2 · Straight-in & turning autorotations

A straight-in autorotation glides to a spot ahead. An autorotation with turns (e.g., 90°/180°) lets you reach a spot not directly ahead — you must manage RPM and airspeed through the turn (RPM tends to rise in the turn) and roll out aligned with the landing area with enough height to flare. Plan the entry point so the turn delivers you to the spot.

3 · Flare & touchdown

Near the ground, apply aft cyclic to flare, which reduces descent and forward speed and increases rotor RPM; then level the helicopter and use the stored rotor energy with collective to cushion the touchdown, landing with skids aligned and the aircraft level. Hold heading with pedals. Timing is everything — flare too high and you sink; too low and you cannot cushion.

4 · Watch

Curated reference clip — “Landing a Helicopter When the Engine Quits | Autorotation Training,” Micah Muzio (YouTube), verified via oEmbed. Embedded with the creator's player; we don't host or alter it.

5 · Reference sources

Use the authoritative references

📄 Helicopter Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-21) — Autorotation 📄 Robinson R44 POH — Emergency Procedures & Autorotation

Your aircraft: autorotative airspeed, rotor RPM limits, and glide characteristics are aircraft-specific — note your R44 figures from the POH (Emergency Procedures / Performance).

✍️ Fill in for the aircraft you fly your R44 autorotation airspeed, rotor-RPM green/limits in autorotation, and glide ratio — look these up in the R44 POH and confirm with your CFI.

⚑ FLAG (Walter): the R44 is a VFR-certificated piston helicopter; confirm the aircraft/figures the student actually flies and that all numbers come from the current R44 POH.

Risk management (the “Consider”): the autorotation killers are a delayed entry (rotor RPM decays before you lower collective), mismanaged RPM/airspeed, and flare timing errors. Lower collective immediately, fly the published airspeed, keep RPM in the green (especially through turns), and flare/cushion at the right height — practice to a conditioned response.