Quote:
Originally Posted by KevinP73
How would you say that to someone with a confused and baffled look on his face?
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Sorry
A helicopter of this design (main rotor/tail rotor) has three controls: 1) Anti-torque pedals (that look like rudder pedals on a regular aircraft). A pilot manipulates them to keep the nose of the helicopter pointed in the right direction when he makes adjustments to the 2) collective which controls the pitch of all the main rotor blades "collectively" or at the same rate at the same time. The collective also controls engine power: As the pilot increases pitch on all the blades collectively engine power is increased and the helicopter going flying. The collective control is in the pilots left hand.
3) The cyclic: Think the control stick in a jets. The cyclic "cycles" the pitch of the main rotor blades independently so the helo can pitch the nose up and down, bank and roll, etc.
Each of these controls has "authority" limits on the travel of the control and the ability to continue to control the aircraft effectively. It looks to me like the combination of collective setting and power as he tried to break the waters adhesion overwhelmed the cyclic "authority" to control pitch and the main rotor blades hit.
Again, I could be wrong. But there it is.