Free Practice Questions for SACAA AME Helicopters

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Sample SACAA AME Helicopters Practice Questions

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1Which aerodynamic force opposes rotor disk drag in steady, unaccelerated forward flight of a helicopter?

A.Forward tilt component of total rotor thrust

B.Tail rotor anti-torque thrust

C.Centrifugal force acting along the rotor blades

D.Gravity vector acting on the tail boom

Explanation: In steady forward flight, the main rotor disk is tilted forward via cyclic pitch control. This tilts the total rotor thrust vector forward, creating a horizontal thrust component that overcomes parasitic and profile drag of the helicopter.

2During autorotation, which region of the rotor blade provides the thrust that keeps the rotor turning at operational RPM?

A.Driven (propeller) region near the tip

B.Driving (autorotative) region between roughly 25% and 70% blade radius

C.Stall region at the blade root

D.Stabilizer bar region

Explanation: The driving (autorotative) zone located approximately between 25% and 70% of the blade radius produces a aerodynamic force vector tilted forward of the axis of rotation, creating accelerating torque that keeps the rotor turning.

3Gyroscopic precession causes maximum blade deflection to occur at what angular position relative to the point of maximum applied force?

A.45 degrees after the point of applied force in direction of rotation

B.90 degrees after the point of applied force in direction of rotation

C.180 degrees opposite the point of applied force

D.90 degrees before the point of applied force in direction of rotation

Explanation: Because a spinning rotor behaves as a gyroscope, an aerodynamic force applied to the rotor system results in maximum directional movement (blade flapping/displacement) 90 degrees later in the direction of rotation.

4What primary mechanism naturally compensates for dissymmetry of lift in a main rotor system during forward flight?

A.Automatic pitch change via governor throttle correlation

B.Blade flapping

C.Tail rotor balance weights

D.Engine torque compensation valves

Explanation: Blade flapping compensates for dissymmetry of lift. The advancing blade experiences higher relative airspeed and flaps up (reducing angle of attack), while the retreating blade experiences lower relative airspeed and flaps down (increasing angle of attack).

5According to the Law of Conservation of Angular Momentum (Coriolis Effect), what happens to a rotor blade when it flaps upward?

A.Its center of mass shifts inward toward the axis of rotation, causing it to lead (speed up)

B.Its center of mass shifts outward, causing it to lag (slow down)

C.Its pitch angle automatically increases by 10 degrees

D.Its rotational velocity drops to zero

Explanation: When a blade flaps up, its center of mass moves closer to the center of rotation. To conserve angular momentum, the blade speeds up in its plane of rotation, causing it to lead forward.

6At approximately what airspeed does Effective Translational Lift (ETL) typically occur in helicopters?

A.2 to 5 knots

B.16 to 24 knots

C.45 to 60 knots

D.80 to 100 knots

Explanation: Effective Translational Lift (ETL) occurs as the helicopter accelerates through roughly 16 to 24 knots, where the rotor completely outruns its own recirculated downwash and enters clean, undisturbed air.

7Which main rotor head design features physical hinges for flapping, lead-lag (drag), and feathering for each blade?

A.Semi-rigid teetering rotor head

B.Fully articulated rotor head

C.Rigid (hingeless) rotor head

D.Bearingless composite rotor head

Explanation: A fully articulated rotor head uses independent mechanical hinges (or equivalent elastomeric bearings) for flapping, lead-lag (hunting/drag), and pitch changes (feathering) for three or more blades.

8What is a key maintenance advantage of elastomeric bearings used in modern rotor heads compared to conventional metallic bearings?

A.They require daily pressure lubrication with synthetic grease

B.They eliminate the need for liquid lubrication and offer fail-safe visual inspection characteristics

C.They allow infinite operating lifespan without inspection

D.They increase mechanical friction to dampen flutter

Explanation: Elastomeric bearings consist of alternating layers of elastomer and metal shims. They operate completely dry (no lubrication required) and fail gradually via elastomer degradation, which is easily detected during visual inspections.

9In a standard swashplate assembly, which component rotates with the main rotor hub?

A.Stationary swashplate ring

B.Rotating swashplate ring

C.Collective hydraulic servo cylinder body

D.Non-rotating control uniball guide

Explanation: The rotating swashplate ring turns at main rotor RPM via drive scissors (torque links) connected to the main shaft/hub, transmitting control pitch inputs directly to the blade pitch horns.

10What happens to the swashplate assembly when the pilot moves only the collective pitch lever upward?

A.The entire swashplate assembly moves uniformly up (or down) along the main mast axis without tilting

B.The swashplate tilts forward only

C.The rotating ring stops turning while the stationary ring tilts sideways

D.The swashplate rotates in the opposite direction of the rotor mast

Explanation: Collective control input slides the complete swashplate assembly vertically along the mast (or uniball guide), altering pitch equally across all rotor blades simultaneously without tilting the disk.

About the SACAA AME Helicopters Exam

The SACAA AME Helicopters examination tests rotorcraft aerodynamics, autorotation physics, main rotor head designs (articulated/semi-rigid/rigid), swashplate linkage, tail rotor/Fenestron anti-torque systems, main transmissions, sprag clutches, and rotor track and balance maintenance.

Exam sponsor: South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

Question count not published by the exam provider

Time Limit

75 minutes

Passing Score

75%

Exam / Certification Fees

~R425–R450 per subject (confirm current SACAA Part 187 fee)

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Official sources

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

25%

Rotary Wing Aerodynamics & Dynamics

Lift generation, autorotation, gyroscopic precession, dissymmetry of lift, blade flap, feather, drag, coriolis effect, and translational lift.

25%

Main Rotor Head & Swashplate Assemblies

Fully articulated, semi-rigid teetering, and rigid rotor heads, elastomeric bearings, swashplate inner/outer rings, collective pitch, and cyclic pitch control.

20%

Tail Rotor & Anti-Torque Systems

Conventional tail rotors, Fenestron shrouded tail rotors, NOTAR (No Tail Rotor) system, pitch control mechanisms, and anti-torque gearboxes.

15%

Transmissions, Gearboxes & Drive Shafts

Main transmission gearbox, freewheeling unit (clutch), tail rotor drive shafts, intermediate/90-degree gearboxes, and chip detectors.

15%

Flight Control Linkages & Vibration Analysis

Hydraulic boost actuators, friction locks, pitch trim, track and balance procedures, strobe tracking, and vibration spectrum analysis.

Preparing for the SACAA AME Helicopters Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 75%
Assessment: Question count not published by the exam provider
Time limit: 75 minutes
Exam / certification fees: ~R425–R450 per subject (confirm current SACAA Part 187 fee) Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

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SACAA AME Helicopters: Suggested Study Strategy

1Understand gyroscopic precession: force applied is manifested 90 degrees later in the direction of rotation.

2Know dissymmetry of lift compensation: advancing blade flaps up (reducing angle of attack) and retreating blade flaps down.

3Review transmission chip detectors: pulsed electric burning (fuzz burner) vs non-burning magnetic plugs.

4Memorise rotor tracking methods: flag tracking, optical strobe tracking, and accelerometer vibration balancing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the pass mark for SACAA AME Helicopters?

The pass mark is 75%, tested centrally via SACAA PEXO multiple-choice exam.

What rotor head types are included in the syllabus?

Fully articulated (flapping, lead-lag, feathering hinges), semi-rigid teetering (under-slung hinge), and rigid rotor heads.

Are autorotation physics and freewheeling units tested?

Yes, autorotative airflow regions (driven, driving, stall region) and sprag clutch operation during engine power loss are key exam areas.

Free Practice Questions for SACAA AME Helicopters

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