Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Powerplant Failure at Altitude in a Single-Engine Helicopter Lesson Plan

Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) • ACS Area VIII, Task B

The Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Powerplant Failure at Altitude in a Single-Engine Helicopter Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills required by FAA-S-ACS-16.

Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Powerplant Failure at Altitude in a Single-Engine Helicopter Lesson Plan

Introduction

  • Attention Getter:

    • Present a realistic commercial helicopter operation in which the outcome depends on sound powerplant failure at altitude in a single-engine helicopter knowledge, risk management, and technique.
    • Ask the learner to identify the earliest decision or control input that protects the available safety margin.

  • Motivator:

    • To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with a simulated powerplant failure at altitude.

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Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Powerplant Failure at Altitude in a Single-Engine Helicopter Lesson Plan

Materials

  • Required Materials:

    • FAA-S-ACS-16, Commercial Pilot for Rotorcraft Category Helicopter Rating Airman Certification Standards.
    • Model-specific Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM), approved checklist, and performance data.
    • Student training record and applicable lesson records.

  • Reference Materials:

    • FAA-S-ACS-16.
    • Helicopter Flying Handbook.
    • Task references: AC 61-140; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/RFM
    • ACS note: See Appendix 2: Safety of Flight and Appendix 3: Aircraft, Equipment, and Operational Requirements & Limitations for information related to this Task.
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Powerplant Failure at Altitude in a Single-Engine Helicopter Lesson Plan

Instructor Actions

  • State the ACS objective and establish the commercial operating context.
  • Knowledge Elements:
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Elements of a powerplant failure at altitude. (CH.VIII.B.K1)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Effects of wind, weight, temperature, and density altitude. (CH.VIII.B.K2)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Main rotor (Nr) speed. (CH.VIII.B.K3)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Energy management. (CH.VIII.B.K4)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Causes and effects of high descent rates. (CH.VIII.B.K5)
    • Explain, correlate, and assess the learner's understanding of Effect of varying bank angles, airspeeds, and rotor rpm. (CH.VIII.B.K6)
  • Risk Management:
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Low entry altitudes. (CH.VIII.B.R1)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Selection of landing area. (CH.VIII.B.R2)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Flight control inputs. (CH.VIII.B.R3)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Turbulence, including wake turbulence. (CH.VIII.B.R4)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Windshear. (CH.VIII.B.R5)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Low rotor rpm or rotor stall. (CH.VIII.B.R6)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Powerplant failure during the maneuver. (CH.VIII.B.R7)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Collision hazards. (CH.VIII.B.R8)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Autorotation power-off never-exceed speed (V ) limitation. NE (CH.VIII.B.R9)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Helicopter trim. (CH.VIII.B.R10)
    • Use a commercial helicopter scenario to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation. (CH.VIII.B.R11)
  • Skill Development:
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Establish an autorotation. (CH.VIII.B.S1)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Establish power-off glide with the helicopter trimmed and autorotation airspeed, ±5 knots. (CH.VIII.B.S2)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Maintain main rotor (Nr) within normal limits. (CH.VIII.B.S3)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Select a suitable landing area considering altitude, wind, terrain, and obstructions. (CH.VIII.B.S4)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Maneuver to avoid undershooting or overshooting the selected landing area. (CH.VIII.B.S5)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Make radio calls as appropriate. (CH.VIII.B.S6)
    • Demonstrate, coach, and assess the learner's ability to Terminate approach with a power recovery at a safe altitude as directed by the evaluator. (CH.VIII.B.S7)
  • Syllabus Objective Coverage:
    • Explain elements of a powerplant failure at altitude.
    • Explain effects of wind, weight, temperature, and density altitude.
    • Explain main rotor (Nr) speed.
    • Explain energy management.
    • Explain causes and effects of high descent rates.
    • Explain effect of varying bank angles, airspeeds, and rotor rpm.
    • Assess and manage low entry altitudes.
    • Assess and manage selection of landing area.
    • Assess and manage flight control inputs.
    • Assess and manage turbulence, including wake turbulence.
    • Assess and manage windshear.
    • Assess and manage low rotor rpm or rotor stall.
    • Assess and manage powerplant failure during the maneuver.
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with collision hazards.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with collision hazards.
    • Assess and manage autorotation power-off never-exceed speed (V ) limitation. NE.
    • Assess and manage helicopter trim.
    • Identify and assess the hazards associated with distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
    • Select and justify effective controls for the risks associated with distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
    • Establish an autorotation.
    • Establish power-off glide with the helicopter trimmed and autorotation airspeed, ±5 knots.
    • Maintain main rotor (Nr) within normal limits.
    • Select a suitable landing area considering altitude, wind, terrain, and obstructions.
    • Demonstrate maneuver to avoid undershooting or overshooting the selected landing area.
    • Demonstrate the ability to make radio calls as appropriate.
    • Demonstrate terminate approach with a power recovery at a safe altitude as directed by the evaluator.
  • Require the learner to use the RFM, checklist, limitations, and current operational information, then document deficiencies and retraining.
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Powerplant Failure at Altitude in a Single-Engine Helicopter Lesson Plan

Guided Scenario(s)

  • Place the learner in a realistic commercial helicopter operation involving passengers, schedule pressure, changing weather or landing-area conditions, and aircraft performance limitations.
  • Require the learner to identify, assess, and mitigate Low entry altitudes.
  • Require the learner to brief, perform, or explain how to Establish an autorotation.
  • Introduce a meaningful change in wind, power available, landing area, traffic, system status, fuel, or external pressure and require a new decision.
  • Conclude with a self-critique tied to every applicable ACS element and the commercial standard of care.
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Powerplant Failure at Altitude in a Single-Engine Helicopter Lesson Plan

Student Actions

  • Complete assigned readings and review the model-specific RFM and checklist.
  • Explain each applicable knowledge element in operational context.
  • Identify, assess, and mitigate each applicable risk.
  • Demonstrate or explain each applicable skill within ACS standards and helicopter limitations.
  • Perform a self-assessment and make appropriate go/no-go, continue/divert, or discontinue decisions.
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Powerplant Failure at Altitude in a Single-Engine Helicopter Lesson Plan

Airman Certification Standards

Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Powerplant Failure at Altitude in a Single-Engine Helicopter Airman Certification Standards

  • Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with a simulated powerplant failure at altitude.
  • References: AC 61-140; FAA-H-8083-2, FAA-H-8083-21, FAA-H-8083-25; POH/RFM
  • Note: See Appendix 2: Safety of Flight and Appendix 3: Aircraft, Equipment, and Operational Requirements & Limitations for information related to this Task.
Knowledge 6 ACS Elements
  • CH.VIII.B.K1:
    Elements of a powerplant failure at altitude.
  • CH.VIII.B.K2:
    Effects of wind, weight, temperature, and density altitude.
  • CH.VIII.B.K3:
    Main rotor (Nr) speed.
  • CH.VIII.B.K4:
    Energy management.
  • CH.VIII.B.K5:
    Causes and effects of high descent rates.
  • CH.VIII.B.K6:
    Effect of varying bank angles, airspeeds, and rotor rpm.
Risk Management 11 ACS Elements
  • CH.VIII.B.R1:
    Low entry altitudes.
  • CH.VIII.B.R2:
    Selection of landing area.
  • CH.VIII.B.R3:
    Flight control inputs.
  • CH.VIII.B.R4:
    Turbulence, including wake turbulence.
  • CH.VIII.B.R5:
    Windshear.
  • CH.VIII.B.R6:
    Low rotor rpm or rotor stall.
  • CH.VIII.B.R7:
    Powerplant failure during the maneuver.
  • CH.VIII.B.R8:
    Collision hazards.
  • CH.VIII.B.R9:
    Autorotation power-off never-exceed speed (V ) limitation. NE
  • CH.VIII.B.R10:
    Helicopter trim.
  • CH.VIII.B.R11:
    Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
Skills 7 ACS Elements
  • CH.VIII.B.S1:
    Establish an autorotation.
  • CH.VIII.B.S2:
    Establish power-off glide with the helicopter trimmed and autorotation airspeed, ±5 knots.
  • CH.VIII.B.S3:
    Maintain main rotor (Nr) within normal limits.
  • CH.VIII.B.S4:
    Select a suitable landing area considering altitude, wind, terrain, and obstructions.
  • CH.VIII.B.S5:
    Maneuver to avoid undershooting or overshooting the selected landing area.
  • CH.VIII.B.S6:
    Make radio calls as appropriate.
  • CH.VIII.B.S7:
    Terminate approach with a power recovery at a safe altitude as directed by the evaluator.
Commercial Pilot (Helicopter) Powerplant Failure at Altitude in a Single-Engine Helicopter Lesson Plan

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Commercial-level powerplant failure at altitude in a single-engine helicopter proficiency protects passengers, the aircraft, and the operator's safety margin.

  • Closure:

    • Review the objective, identified risks, performance strengths, and items requiring additional training.
    • Record the learner's progress and assign the next applicable lesson.