Task 1038

extract: TC 1-211 AIRCREW TRAINING MANUAL UTILITY HELICOPTER, UH-1H/V SERIES

TASK 1038
PERFORM HOVERING FLIGHT

CONDITIONS: In a UH-1 helicopter.
STANDARDS: Appropriate common standards.

DESCRIPTION:
1. Crew actions.
 a. The pilot on the controls (P*) will announce their intent to perform a specific hovering
 flight maneuver and will remain focused primarily outside the aircraft to monitor altitude and
 avoid obstacles. The P* will ensure and announce that the aircraft is cleared prior to turning
 or repositioning the aircraft. The P* will announce terminating the maneuver.
 b. The pilot not on the controls (P) and nonrated crewmember (NCM) will assist in clearing
 the aircraft and provide adequate warning of obstacles, unannounced drift, or altitude
 changes. They will announce when their attention is focused inside the aircraft and again
 when attention is reestablished outside.
2. Procedures.
 a. Takeoff to a hover. With the collective full down, place the cyclic in a neutral position.
 Increase the collective smoothly. Apply pedals to maintain heading, and coordinate the cyclic
 for a vertical ascent. As the aircraft leaves the ground, check for the proper control response
 and aircraft center of gravity (CG). Continue to increase collective for a smooth, controlled
 ascent to a hover.
 b. Hovering flight. Adjust the cyclic to maintain a stationary hover or to move in the desired
 direction. Control heading with the pedals, and maintain altitude with the collective. The rate
 of movement and altitude should be appropriate for existing conditions. To return to a
 stationary hover, apply cyclic in the opposite direction while maintaining altitude with the
 collective and heading with the pedals.

Note: Air taxi is the preferred method for ground movements on airports provided ground
operations and conditions permit. Unless otherwise requested or instructed, pilots are
expected to remain below 100 feet above ground level (AGL). However, if a higher than
normal airspeed or altitude is desired, the request should be made prior to lift-off. The pilot is
solely responsible for selecting a safe airspeed for the altitude/operation being conducted. Use
of air taxi enables the pilot to proceed at an optimum airspeed/altitude, minimize down wash
effect, conserve fuel, and expedite movement from one point to another.

c. Hovering turns. Apply pressure to the desired pedal to begin the turn. Use pressure and
counter pressure on the pedals to maintain the desired rate of turn. Coordinate cyclic control
to maintain position over the pivot point while maintaining altitude with the collective.
Hovering turns can be made around any vertical axis; for example, the nose, mast, tail of the
aircraft, or a point in front of the aircraft. However, turns other than about the center of the
aircraft will increase the turn radius proportionately.
d. Landing from a hover. Lower the collective to affect a smooth, controlled descent with
minimal drift at touchdown. Ensure the aircraft does not move laterally or aft. Make
necessary corrections with the pedals and cyclic to maintain a constant heading and position.
On ground contact, ensure that the aircraft remains stable. Continue lowering the collective
smoothly and steadily while continuing to check aircraft stability. When the collective is fully
down, neutralize the pedals and cyclic. If sloping conditions are suspected or anticipated, (see
Task 1062).

Note: Cyclic turns should only be used when necessary.

Note: When landing from a hover to an unimproved area, the crew must check for obstacles
under the aircraft.

NIGHT OR NIGHT VISION GOGGLE CONSIDERATIONS:
1. Movement over areas of limited contrast, such as tall grass, water, or desert, tends to cause
spatial disorientation. Seek hover areas that provide adequate contrast and use proper scanning
techniques. If disorientation occurs, apply sufficient power and execute a takeoff. If a takeoff is
not feasible, try to maneuver the aircraft forward and down to the ground to limit the possibility
of touchdown with sideward or rearward movement.
2. When performing operations during unaided night flight, ensure that the searchlight or
landing light (white light) is in the desired position. Use of the white light will impair night vision
for several minutes. Therefore, exercise added caution if resuming flight before reaching full dark
adaptation.

SNOW/SAND/DUST CONSIDERATIONS: During ascent to a hover, if visual references do not
deteriorate to an unacceptable level, continue ascent to the desired hover altitude.
1. The 3 to 5-foot hover taxi. During takeoff to a hover, simultaneously accelerate the aircraft to
a ground speed that keeps the snow/sand/dust cloud just aft of the main rotor mast.
Note: Maintain optimum visibility by observing references close to the aircraft. Exercise
caution when operating in close proximity to other aircraft or obstacles.
Note: When visual references deteriorate making a 3-foot hover taxi unsafe, determine
whether to abort the maneuver, air taxi, or perform an instrument takeoff (ITO) (Task 1170).
2. The 20- to 100-foot air taxi. Use this maneuver when it is necessary to move the aircraft over
terrain that is unsuitable for hover taxi. Initiate air taxi the same as a 3-foot hover, but increase
altitude to not more than 100 feet and accelerate to a safe airspeed appropriate for conditions,
above effective translational lift (ETL).
Note: Ensure that an area is available to safely decelerate and land the aircraft. Under certain
conditions, such as adverse winds, it may be necessary to perform a traffic pattern to optimize
conditions at the desired termination point.
Note: Hovering out-of-ground effect (OGE) reduces available ground references and may
increase the possibility of spatial disorientation. Be prepared to transition to instruments and
execute an instrument takeoff (ITO) (Task 1170) or unusual attitude recovery (Task 1182) if
ground reference is lost.
Note: At night, use of landing, search, or anti-collision light may cause spatial disorientation
while in blowing snow/sand/dust.

Note: OGE power may be required for this maneuver.

CONFINED AREA CONSIDERATIONS: Select good references to avoid unanticipated drift. All
crewmembers must be focused primarily outside for obstacle avoidance.

TRAINING AND EVALUATION REQUIREMENTS:
1. Training will be conducted in the aircraft.
2. Evaluation will be conducted in the aircraft.

REFERENCES: Appropriate common references.