COMHELTACWINGPAC

NAS NORTH ISLAND, CA

PROFESSIONAL LESSON
GUIDE

AM-16
FLIGHT CONTROLS/RIGGING
 Lecture Information and
Review Data

• TIME: 0.9 HOUR

• DATE PREPARED: 17 APRIL 02
• DATE REVIEWED:

• REVIEWED BY: AMC PADILLA

 Objectives

• To familiarize shop personnel

with components, operation, and
maintenance of the H-46 Flight
Controls.
 Instructional Aids and
References

• INSTRUCTIONAL AIDS:
– Chalkboard and associated equipment.
– H-46 Helicopter.
• REFERENCE:
– A1-H46AE-140-000
– A1-H46AE-450-000
 Cockpit Controls

– Function - Transfers inputs from

either the pilot or co-pilot to the

lower controls in the HYD closet,
through various bellcranks.
Rudder pedals
 Cockpit Controls
(cont)

– Operation - Both controls move

simultaneously. Rudder pedals may be
adjusted to individual pilots. This
accomplished by a unitary pedal
adjustment mechanism.

– Located between the rudder pedals.

Lower Controls
Centering Springs
 Centering Springs
– Function - Provides artificial feel when
the ASE actuators are locked and transmit
ASE correction inputs to the controls
when driven by the ASE actuators.
– Location - They are installed in the
flight controls between station 101 and
120 are accessible by removing the
central closet blanket (if installed).
 Centering Springs
(cont)
– Operation - Switches on the centering
springs permit temporary pilot command
changes in ASE controlled heading or
altitude. The switches function in the ASE
only. Four springs are installed in the
helicopter; one in each flight
control axis between the lower idler
bellcrank and ASE actuator output arm.
ASE Actuators
 ASE Actuators
– Function - There are four actuators, one for
each flight axis; Longitudinal (pitch), Lateral
(roll), Directional (yaw), and Collective
(thrust).

– All actuators are connected to the lower idler

bellcranks through centering springs output
arms of the actuators.
 ASE Actuators (cont)
• Each actuator comprises a:
– servomotor
– servo-amplifier
– a magnetic (simplex)
– a duplex clutch
– control transformer synchro
– reversing transformer
– spring magnetic brake
– electrical circuits and gear train
interconnecting the comp
 ASE Actuators (cont)
– Location - They are mounted on the bulkhead
at station 101 in the flight control closet.

• Operation - The ASE actuators operate in

either of two modes:
– The synchronization mode or
– the stabilization mode.
 ASE Actuators (cont)
• Synchronization mode -
– (ASE and altitude hold switches off), the
ASE and the ASE actuators follow changes
in the altitude heading, and altitude of
the helicopter without applying
corrective forces to the flight controls.
 ASE Actuators (cont)

• Stabilization mode -
– ASE switch at ATS and altitude hold,

engage errors will not be introduced

into the flight control system by
actuators.
 Stick Boost Dual
Actuating Cylinders
 Stick Boost Dual
Actuating Cylinders
• Function -
– Assist the pilot in moving the controls. The
actuating cylinders overcome central friction
forces and absorb feed back from the controls
above the cylinders.

– Four actuating cylinders are installed in the

helicopter. One in each flight control axis
between the lower idler bellcrank and the
dual extensible link.
 Stick Boost Dual Actuating
Cylinders (cont)
• Location -
– They are located in the flight
control closet on the
right side of the helicopter between
station 101 and 120. They are accessible
by removing the troop commanders seat.
 Stick Boost Dual Actuating
Cylinders (cont)
• Operation:
– Each stick boost dual actuating
cylinder consists of dual hydraulic
pistons and cylinders inside a single
cylinder body, input and output end
levers, links, a central (pilot
valve), and pressure and return ports.
Stick Boost Dual Actuating
Cylinders (cont)
– The body of the cylinder does not move. It
is rigidly mounted on the stick manifold
over check valves of the two flight control
boost systems.

– Hydraulic fluid from the manifold centers

through the pressure ports of the cylinders
and returns through the return ports.
Stick Boost Dual Actuating
Cylinders (cont)

– The pistons and levers of the cylinder

are free to move up or down as the
pilot valve is moved.
 Dual Extensible Links
Electro-Hydraulic Units
 Dual Extensible Links
Electro-Hydraulic Units
• Purpose -
– Imparts corrective control motions
from the extensible link actuator to
the flight controls.

• Location -
– In the flight control closet on the right side
stations 101 and 120.
 Electro-hydraulic Units
(cont)
• Links - Are powered electrically by AFCS
and hydraulically the two flight control
hydraulic boost systems.
– 3 dual extensible links.
– One in the lateral.
– One in the directional.
– One in the longitudinal flight control
axis.
 Electro-hydraulic Units
(cont)

– Each dual extensible link consists of

two cylinders sub-assemblies fastened
together with screws and nuts. Each
sub-assembly consist of electro
hydraulic (servo) valve and a feed
back variable resistor
(potentiometer).
 Electro-hydraulic Units
(cont)
• Operation -
– During operation of the links, hydraulic
pressures from the two independent flight
control hydraulic systems of the
helicopter are applied to the servo
valves which direct the pressures to vary
the lengths of the dual extensible link.
 Electro-hydraulic Units
(cont)

– Each section can continue operation

if one system fails. The extensible
link then performs as fixed links in
the flight control system.
DCPT Actuator
 DCPT Actuator
• Differential Collective Pitch and
Longitudinal Stick Positioner

• Location -
– In the flight control closet between
station 101 and
120.
 DCPT Actuator
• Purpose -
– Trims the differential collective pitch of
the rotor blades and selects the
longitudinal control range of the control
stick.
• Actuator -
– Is linear, electrically reversible, has a
duty cycle of 3 minutes on and 1 minute off.
 DCPT Actuator
• DCPT actuator -
– contains a servo amplifier, two
unijunction transistance firing
circuits, and two silicon controlled
rectifiers which drive a reversible
motor to extend or retract the actuator.
Control Cables and
Turnbuckles
 Control Cables and
Turnbuckles
• Located -
– Between station 158 to 384 beneath the
cabin tunnel. Upper
cable is for collective and lower
cable is for lateral control.
•
• Function -
– Transmits control motions from the
lower controls to the aft upper
 Control Cables and
Turnbuckles (cont)
• Description -
– Collective cables are 7/32 inch
diameter, 7x19 corrosion resistance.
Lateral cables are 5/32 inch diameter, 7x19
corrosion resistance flexible cable.
– There are 8 turnbuckles which are adjustable
for rigging and are either safety wired or
have clips for security.
Forward and Aft Upper
Flight Controls
Upper Dual Boost Actuating
Cylinders (UDBA)
 Upper Dual Boost
Actuating Cylinders

– Four (4) each, 2 forward and 2 aft.

– The dual boost cylinder is operated by

flight boost systems 1 & 2, each
independent of each other. One UDBA is
for lateral control, the other UDBA is
for collective control.
Yoke Support
 Yoke Support

– Attached to collective pitch yoke by

collective pitch forward shaft.

– Attached to lower part of support is

longitudinal rigid
link.
Lateral Input Bellcrank
 Lateral Input
Bellcrank

– Attached to yoke and lateral forward

shaft. Attached to top of bellcrank is
lateral dual boost cylinder, and
attached to lower end is the strain
gage.
Collective Pitch Yoke
 Collective Pitch Yoke

– Separates the lateral control

components from collective pitch
components.

– Mounted to both yoke supports

Lateral Rigid Link
 Lateral Rigid Link

– Attached to aft end by the lateral

bellcrank and the forward end by

lateral differential bellcrank.
Longitudinal Rigid Link
 Longitudinal Rigid
Link

– Attached to aft end by support yoke

and forward end by longitudinal
differential bellcrank.
Lateral Differential
Bellcrank
 Lateral Differential
Bellcrank

– Attached to collective pitch yoke by

collective pitch bolt.

– The lower end attaches to the lateral

link.
 Longitudinal
Differential Bellcrank
 Longitudinal
Differential Bellcrank

– Attached at aft end to arm of

collective pitch yoke by collective

pitch bolt and forward end to forward
longitudinal cyclic trim actuator.
Pitch Link Assembly
 Pitch Link Assembly

– Changes the pitch of blade angle to

either increase or decrease.

– Has 30 marks around a movable barrel.

 Operations
– Control movement by either pilot through
cyclic stick, directional pedals, collective
sticks, bellcranks, control rods and mixing
units are transmitted to the upper controls.

– In the upper boost dual actuating cylinders

which hydraulically operate the forward upper
controls.
 Operations (cont)
– The upper controls are interconnected
by links to the rotor controls so that
any responding motion at the rotor
controls control cables which are
connected between the forward
and aft walking beams.
 Operations (cont)

– These control cables transmit the

control motions to the aft upper
controls which operate in a manner
identical to the forward
upper controls.
 Maintenance
– Maintenance of the upper flight controls is
limited to replacement of bolts, washers, nuts,
bushings, bearings, and
components.

– Wear limits on bolts, bushings, and bearings are

located in ref. (a). Control cables can be
replaced or cable tension adjusted.
•
 SUMMARY
• Flight controls link the pilot with
the rotary wing.

• The components consist of hydraulic

cylinders, control rods and cables.
Maintenance is limited to replacement
of bolts, bushings, bearings,
bellcranks, and actuating cylinders.
 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
What type of actuating cylinders are
used?
Dual Hydraulic

What provides for artificial feel?

Centering springs

How many ASE actuators are there?

Four (4)
 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
(cont)

Where is the location of the dual

extensible links?

Flight control closet, right side of stations

101 and 120