Low G Conditions And Mast Bumping

Rotorcraft Flying Menu >Helicopter Emergencies >Low G Conditions And Mast Bumping

For cyclic control, small helicopters depend primarily on tilting the main rotor thrust vector to produce control moments about the aircraft center of gravity (CG), causing the helicopter to roll or pitch in the desired direction. Pushing the cyclic control forward abruptly from either straight-and-level flight or after a climb can put the helicopter into a low G (weightless) flight condition. In forward flight, when a push-over is performed, the angle of attack and thrust of the rotor is reduced, causing a low G or weightless flight condition. During the low G condition, the lateral cyclic has little, if any, effect because the rotor thrust has been reduced. Also, in a counter-clockwise rotor system (a clockwise system would be the reverse), there is no main rotor thrust component to the left to counteract the tail rotor thrust to the right, and since the tail rotor is above the CG, the tail rotor thrust causes the helicopter to roll rapidly to the right, If you attempt to stop the right roll by applying full left cyclic before regaining main rotor thrust, the rotor can exceed its flapping limits and cause structural failure of the rotor shaft due to mast bumping, or it may allow a blade to contact the airframe. [Figure 11-9]

Figure 11-9. In a low G condition, improper corrective action could lead to the main rotor hub contacting the rotor mast. The contact with the mast becomes more violent with each successive flapping motion. This, in turn, creates a greater flapping displacement. The result could be a severely damaged rotor mast, or the main rotor system could separate from the helicopter.turbulence, slow your forward airspeed and make small control inputs. If turbulence becomes excessive,
consider making a precautionary landing. To help prevent turbulence induced inputs, make sure your cyclic arm is properly supported. One way to accomplish this is to brace your arm against your leg. Even if you are not in turbulent conditions, you should avoid abrupt movement of the cyclic and collective.

If you do find yourself in a low G condition, which can be recognized by a feeling of weightlessness and an uncontrolled roll to the right, you should immediately and smoothly apply aft cyclic. Do not attempt to correct the rolling action with lateral cyclic. By applying aft cyclic, you will load the rotor system, which in turn produces thrust. Once thrust is restored, left cyclic control becomes effective, and you can roll the helicopter to a level attitude.