SIFT SIFT Emergency Procedures and Safety Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is 'spatial disorientation' and why is it especially dangerous in helicopter flight?
- A navigational error caused by faulty GPS
- A condition where a pilot's senses give false information about the aircraft's attitude, leading to loss of control (Correct answer)
- Disorientation caused by rotating rotor wash in the cockpit
- A communication breakdown between crew members under stress
Correct answer: A condition where a pilot's senses give false information about the aircraft's attitude, leading to loss of control
Spatial disorientation occurs when a pilot's vestibular senses conflict with actual flight instruments, often leading to unrecognized attitude deviations and potential loss of control, particularly at night or in IMC.
Question 2: What is the 'dead man's curve' (height-velocity diagram) in helicopter operations?
- A steep descending turn that exceeds the rotor's lift capacity
- A combination of altitude and airspeed from which a safe autorotation landing cannot be guaranteed (Correct answer)
- The critical rotor RPM range where blade stall begins
- A flight path over hostile territory with no emergency landing options
Correct answer: A combination of altitude and airspeed from which a safe autorotation landing cannot be guaranteed
The height-velocity diagram (also called the dead man's curve) identifies altitude-airspeed combinations from which a successful autorotation landing is unlikely if the engine fails.
Question 3: What is the standard Army aviation crew communication protocol when approaching a potential obstacle?
- The pilot in command calls obstacles; the copilot remains silent until impact is imminent
- Either crew member should immediately call out obstacles using clock position and distance (Correct answer)
- Only the copilot monitors for obstacles while the pilot focuses on flight instruments
- Obstacle calls are made only after the aircraft is within 500 feet of the hazard
Correct answer: Either crew member should immediately call out obstacles using clock position and distance
Army crew coordination doctrine requires any crew member who spots a hazard to immediately announce it using clock position and distance, as timely communication prevents accidents.
Question 4: What does 'TOLD card' stand for in Army aviation pre-flight planning?
- Tactical Operations and Logistics Data card
- Takeoff and Landing Data card, used to calculate performance figures for a given flight profile (Correct answer)
- Target Orbit and Landing Diagram card
- Terrain Obstacle and Low-Level Data card
Correct answer: Takeoff and Landing Data card, used to calculate performance figures for a given flight profile
A TOLD card contains Takeoff and Landing Data, including calculations for hover ceiling, rate of climb, and landing distance based on current density altitude, weight, and conditions.
Question 5: What is the most likely cause of a 'loss of tail rotor effectiveness' (LTE) in a helicopter?
- Excessive collective pitch during autorotation
- Low airspeed combined with certain wind directions causing reduced tail rotor authority (Correct answer)
- Hydraulic failure in the tail rotor servo system
- Tail rotor blade icing in cold weather conditions
Correct answer: Low airspeed combined with certain wind directions causing reduced tail rotor authority
LTE occurs at low airspeeds when wind from certain directions reduces the tail rotor's ability to counteract main rotor torque, causing an uncommanded yaw rotation.
Question 6: What Army publication governs aviation accident prevention and risk management for Army helicopter operations?
- AR 95-1 — Flight Regulations (Correct answer)
- FM 3-04.300 — Airfield and Flight Operations Procedures
- TC 3-04.11 — Commander's Aircrew Training Program
- ATP 3-04.7 — Army Aviation Maintenance
Correct answer: AR 95-1 — Flight Regulations
AR 95-1 (Army Regulation 95-1) is the primary regulatory document governing Army aviation flight regulations, including accident prevention, risk management, and operational requirements.
SIFT SIFT Emergency Procedures and Safety Questions and Answers 2
What is 'spatial disorientation' and why is it especially dangerous in helicopter flight?