[uvc-youtube id=”k7u8m0Qpn38″ width=”560″ height=”315″ autoplay=”0″ controls=”1″] Helicopter auto rotation can be a life saver.

Please share so i can buy my son another parachute (this is a joke…. but seriously…click link) http://on.fb.me/ChopperParachute .

What happens if the motor of a helicopter dies in mid flight, is that the end of the story for the pilot and the chopper?  Apparently not if the pilot knows how to pull of the auto rotation maneuver, and if the blades are still intact.  The falling helicopter will have a strong current of air flowing through the rotor blades which makes them turn according to the tilt/pitch of the blades, the competent pilot will set the pitch of the blades so that the rotor will spin rapidly like a windmill during the free fall, and at a appropriate point before impact the cool headed pilot will reset the pitch of the blades, using the kinetic energy of the rotor system to his advantage, to work the rotors to push against (thrust) the flow of air and therefore slowing the free falling helicopter to a sustainable landing.

Helicopter auto rotation has been tried and proven many times with success.

The auto rotation mechanical maneuver has  prevented many crashes, close calls and disasters,  instead of free falling like a rock out of the sky, a cool headed competent pilot can work the tilt of the blades to his advantage, using the kinetic energy of the rotor system to ensure a smooth soft landing and live on to tell the story.

Helicopter auto rotation is not for the faint heartened.

It can be the worst scenario for a passenger of a helicopter or inexperienced pilot. Flying high up in the air with the up lift of the rotors working hard to keep the high technical hunk of metals airborne, when suddenly the motors revs slow down and stop completely.  Then it is a sense and a squeeze feeling in the bottom of the stomach, when the gravity takes hold of the chopper and sends it down towards Terra fir-ma.   Yikes!…. going into the damage control, and to get immediate grip on the fall , it has to be second nature to be able to come out of it alive.