FAA Private Pilot — Helicopter (PRH)

Under 14 CFR Part 91, who is directly responsible for, and the final authority as to, the operation of an aircraft?

• AThe pilot in command
• BThe certificated flight instructor on board
• CAir traffic control
• DThe aircraft owner or operator

A private pilot certificate with a rotorcraft category and helicopter class rating allows the holder to act as pilot in command of a helicopter carrying passengers when the flight is conducted for what purpose?

• AFor compensation or hire on demand
• BNot for compensation or hire, except limited cost-sharing
• CAs an air carrier operation
• DFor aerial application for hire

Except when necessary for takeoff or landing, what is the minimum safe altitude for a helicopter over a congested area under 14 CFR 91.119?

• A500 feet above the surface
• B1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within 2,000 feet horizontally
• CAn altitude allowing emergency landing without undue hazard, if operated without hazard t…
• D2,000 feet above ground level

What is the basic VFR weather minimum for flight visibility and distance from clouds in Class G airspace at 1,200 feet AGL or less, during the day (helicopter, not special VFR)?

• A3 statute miles visibility and clear of clouds
• B1 statute mile visibility; 500 ft below, 1,000 ft above, 2,000 ft horizontal from clouds
• CNo minimums apply in Class G
• D1 statute mile visibility and clear of clouds

What document must a pilot have in personal possession or readily accessible in the aircraft while acting as pilot in command?

• AA pilot certificate, photo identification, and a current medical certificate (when requir…
• BA current sectional chart
• CA logbook showing all flight time
• DA notarized copy of the airworthiness certificate

To carry passengers, a pilot must have made how many takeoffs and landings within the preceding 90 days under 14 CFR 61.57?

• AOne takeoff and one landing
• BThree takeoffs and three landings
• CThree takeoffs and three landings to a full stop in all cases
• DSix instrument approaches

What is the maximum indicated airspeed for an aircraft operating in Class C or Class D airspace at or below 2,500 feet AGL within 4 nautical miles of the primary airport?

• A250 knots
• B230 knots
• C200 knots
• D156 knots

Two-way radio communication must be established with ATC prior to entering which class of airspace?

• AClass G
• BClass E below 1,200 feet AGL
• CClass A only
• DClass D

Within how many nautical miles of the airport reference point is the standard Class B airspace mode C (transponder) requirement and the 30-NM 'Mode C veil' applied?

• A30 nautical miles from the Class B primary airport
• B10 nautical miles
• C20 nautical miles
• D50 nautical miles

When operating under VFR in level cruising flight more than 3,000 feet AGL on a magnetic course of 0 to 179 degrees, what altitude should be flown?

• AEven thousands MSL plus 500 feet
• BOdd thousands MSL plus 500 feet
• CAny VFR altitude
• DEven thousands MSL

What is the maximum allowable blood alcohol concentration, and minimum time after consuming alcohol, for acting as a required crewmember under 14 CFR 91.17?

• A0.08% BAC and 12 hours after the last drink
• B0.10% BAC and 24 hours
• C0.04% BAC or greater is prohibited, and 8 hours from bottle to throttle
• DNo alcohol limit if feeling normal

A second-class medical certificate held by a 40-year-old pilot is valid for first-class privileges for how long, and for what duration does it remain valid for private-pilot (third-class) privileges?

• A12 months for all privileges
• B60 months for all privileges
• CIndefinitely with BasicMed
• D6 months first-class; 24 months third-class for pilots 40 and older at exam

Who has the responsibility to determine whether an aircraft is in condition for safe flight before each flight?

• AThe pilot in command
• BA certificated airframe and powerplant mechanic
• CThe FAA
• DThe aircraft dispatcher

How often must a helicopter's transponder be tested and inspected to be used in controlled airspace under 14 CFR 91.413?

• AEvery 12 calendar months
• BEvery 24 calendar months
• CEvery 100 hours
• DOnly at annual inspection

What is the cloud clearance requirement for VFR flight in Class E airspace at 8,000 feet MSL (below 10,000 feet MSL)?

• AClear of clouds
• B1,000 feet below, 1,000 feet above, 1 statute mile horizontal
• C500 feet below, 1,000 feet above, 2,000 feet horizontal
• D500 feet below, 500 feet above, 1,000 feet horizontal

An aircraft's airworthiness certificate is valid as long as which condition is met?

• AThe aircraft is registered to a U.S. citizen
• BIt is renewed every 24 months by the FAA
• CThe pilot holds a current medical
• DThe aircraft is maintained in accordance with FARs and operated within its limitations

Which inspections must a helicopter operated under Part 91 for hire and used to give flight instruction for hire have, in addition to the annual inspection?

• AA 100-hour inspection
• BA progressive inspection only
• CAn inspection every 12 calendar months only
• DA pre-takeoff inspection by a mechanic

When are position lights required to be on for a helicopter under 14 CFR 91.209?

• AOnly when operating in controlled airspace
• BSunset to sunrise
• COnly during instrument conditions
• DOnly above 3,000 feet AGL

What is required before a helicopter may operate in Class B airspace?

• AOnly two-way radio contact
• BA Mode C transponder but no clearance
• CA specific ATC clearance to enter Class B
• DA flight plan filed with Flight Service

Under 14 CFR 91.103, preflight action for a flight not in the vicinity of an airport must include which of the following?

• AOnly the current METAR
• BOnly NOTAMs for the departure airport
• COnly the aircraft weight and balance
• DAll available information concerning that flight, including weather, fuel, alternatives,…

During cruise flight, what is the latest time a helicopter must land to comply with passenger-carrying night currency if the pilot lacks recent night takeoffs and landings?

• A1 hour after sunset
• BThe end of evening civil twilight
• CMidnight local time
• D2 hours after sunset

Which airspace is depicted on a sectional chart by a blue segmented (dashed) circle around an airport?

• AClass B airspace
• BClass D airspace
• CClass C airspace
• DA Mode C veil

What causes dissymmetry of lift on a helicopter main rotor in forward flight?

• ABoth blades produce equal lift but at different angles of attack
• BGyroscopic precession reduces lift on the advancing side
• CThe advancing blade produces more lift than the retreating blade due to differing relativ…
• DTranslational lift removes the effect entirely

Because of gyroscopic precession, a force applied to a spinning rotor disc is manifested in the direction of rotation how many degrees later?

• A45 degrees
• B180 degrees
• C270 degrees
• D90 degrees

What is translating tendency (drift) in a single-main-rotor helicopter?

• AThe tendency of the helicopter to drift in the direction of tail rotor thrust during a ho…
• BThe tendency to climb when the cyclic is centered
• CThe tendency of the rotor RPM to decay in autorotation
• DThe tendency to yaw left during a power increase

Effective translational lift (ETL) typically becomes noticeable at approximately what airspeed?

• A2 to 5 knots
• B16 to 24 knots
• C45 to 55 knots
• DAbove 80 knots

Which set of conditions describes the classic entry into settling with power (vortex ring state)?

• AHigh forward airspeed and idle power
• BLevel cruise with full power
• CHigh rate of descent, low forward airspeed, and significant power applied
• DA power-off autorotation at best glide speed

What is the recommended recovery technique from settling with power in a helicopter with adequate altitude?

• AIncrease collective to maximum power immediately
• BEnter a vertical climb
• CReduce airspeed to zero and hold a hover
• DApply forward cyclic to gain airspeed and fly out of the vortices; in some helicopters la…

Retreating blade stall is most likely to occur under which conditions?

• AHigh forward airspeed, high gross weight, low rotor RPM, high density altitude, and turbu…
• BLow airspeed in a stable hover
• CAutorotation at minimum gross weight
• DVertical takeoff at sea level

What is the primary recovery action for retreating blade stall?

• AIncrease collective and airspeed simultaneously
• BReduce collective pitch, reduce airspeed, increase rotor RPM, and reduce severity of mane…
• CEnter a steep climbing turn
• DApply full aft cyclic and hold

How does ground effect improve helicopter hover performance?

• AIt increases tail rotor authority only
• BIt eliminates translating tendency
• CIt reduces induced drag and rotor downwash velocity near the surface, requiring less powe…
• DIt increases the air density beneath the rotor

During an autorotation, what provides the energy to keep the main rotor turning?

• AThe engine at flight idle
• BThe tail rotor driving the transmission
• CStored battery power to an electric motor
• DUpward airflow through the rotor disc as the helicopter descends

The freewheeling unit (overrunning clutch) in a helicopter serves what primary purpose?

• AIt disengages the engine from the rotor when engine RPM drops below rotor RPM, allowing a…
• BIt increases rotor RPM during cruise
• CIt controls tail rotor pitch
• DIt engages the rotor brake on shutdown

What is the function of the swashplate assembly in a helicopter?

• AIt drives the tail rotor
• BIt converts non-rotating control inputs into rotating blade pitch changes for cyclic and…
• CIt stores hydraulic fluid
• DIt senses engine RPM for the governor

What does a governor or correlator do in a piston-engine helicopter?

• AIt controls cyclic trim
• BIt manages the electrical bus
• CIt automatically adjusts engine power to maintain rotor and engine RPM as collective pitc…
• DIt engages the clutch on startup

What is the primary purpose of the tail rotor in a single-main-rotor helicopter?

• ATo provide forward thrust
• BTo increase main rotor lift
• CTo stabilize pitch attitude
• DTo counteract main rotor torque and provide directional (yaw) control

What instrument indicates whether the helicopter is in coordinated (in-trim) flight or experiencing a slip or skid?

• AThe slip/skid indicator (inclinometer or yaw string)
• BThe vertical speed indicator
• CThe torque gauge
• DThe radar altimeter

In a helicopter equipped with hydraulic flight control assist, what is the likely effect of a hydraulic system failure?

• AThe rotor immediately stops
• BControl forces increase significantly, requiring the pilot to use more force and follow e…
• CThe engine fails
• DThe aircraft becomes uncontrollable in all cases

What does the collective pitch control primarily change?

• AThe pitch of only the advancing blade
• BThe tail rotor thrust
• CThe pitch angle of all main rotor blades equally, controlling total rotor thrust
• DThe engine ignition timing

What does the cyclic pitch control do?

• AIt changes the pitch of all blades equally
• BIt controls only engine RPM
• CIt operates the rotor brake
• DIt tilts the rotor disc in the desired direction by changing blade pitch at specific poin…

A pilot increases collective pitch in a hover. Without a governor or correlator, what happens to rotor RPM if the throttle is not adjusted?

• ARotor RPM tends to decrease because of increased drag on the blades
• BRotor RPM increases
• CRotor RPM remains constant
• DThe tail rotor stops

What is the purpose of the main rotor transmission in a helicopter?

• ATo store hydraulic fluid for the controls
• BTo reduce engine RPM to usable rotor RPM and drive the main and tail rotors
• CTo regulate cabin temperature
• DTo filter engine oil only

Why does a single-main-rotor helicopter tend to yaw when collective pitch (and thus power) is increased?

• AThe tail rotor stops producing thrust
• BThe cyclic automatically moves
• CIncreased main rotor torque must be offset by more antitorque pedal input
• DGround effect reverses the yaw

What is loss of tail rotor effectiveness (LTE)?

• AA complete tail rotor mechanical failure
• BA loss of main rotor lift in a hover
• CAn engine compressor stall
• DAn uncommanded rapid yaw, not from a tail rotor failure, often in low-speed flight with c…

What is Coriolis effect (conservation of angular momentum) in a rotor system?

• AA blade speeds up as it flaps up and the center of mass moves closer to the axis of rotat…
• BA blade slows as it produces more lift
• CThe rotor disc tilts opposite the cyclic input
• DThe tail rotor produces more thrust at altitude

During a hovering autorotation entry following engine failure in a hover, what is the pilot's primary concern?

• AGaining maximum forward airspeed
• BMaintaining heading with pedals and cushioning the touchdown with collective using rotor…
• CClimbing to gain altitude
• DIncreasing rotor RPM above the limit

Why is rotor RPM critical during autorotation?

• AHigher RPM always reduces descent rate to zero
• BRPM has no effect once the engine fails
• CRotor RPM stores kinetic energy used for the flare and cushioned landing; too low risks r…
• DLow RPM increases lift