Rotorcraft Question Bank

Transmissions
1) How is power generated in a helicopter?

2) What are the main components on the transmission system?

3) What is the primary purpose of the main rotor transmission?

4) Why is it important to reduce the speed of the rotors?

5) What are the functions of a helicopter’s gearbox?

6) How is the speed of rotation distributed from the engine to the main and tail rotor?

7) Explain the use of bevel gears in the main gearbox.

8) Explain first stage and second stage reduction to achieve speed reduction to the main rotor
blades.

9) What is the function of the two bearings in the rotor mast.

10) How does the main gearbox separate the motion from the engine(s)?

11) Describe the function of the Intermediate Gear Box.

12) What is the main function of the TGB?

13) Describe how clutches work.

14) Why is the freewheel unit crucial for flight safety?

15) Explain in detail freewheel engagement and disengagement.

16) What is the purpose of rotor brakes?

17) Why are tail rotor drive shafts used in the helicopter powertrain?

18) How is damage due to the torque experienced on the tail boom prevented?

19) What is the function of the flexible discs?

20) During maintenance, an engineer discovered warping of the flexible discs. List the possible
reason(s) for this discovery.
21) List and describe the causes of high frequency vibrations on helicopters.

22) After returning from a flight, the pilot complained about vibrations believed to be originating
in the tail rotor drive system. List the probable causes of this indication of trouble and the
corrective action to rectify the issue and return the aircraft to service.

23) An engineer turns the tail rotor driveshaft by hand and felt binding or roughness. What are
the probable causes for this occurrence?