question from the knowledge test

[rjl2001]

To taxi on the surface in a safe and efficient manner, helicopter pilots should use the...

( A ) cyclic pitch to control starting, taxi speed, and stopping.

( B ) collective pitch to control starting, taxi speed, and stopping.

( C ) something about tail rotor

?

 

This is a question from the FAA Commercial Rotorcraft Helicopter written test. The correct answer is B, but I don't really understand why. Choice A always looks like the best answer to me. If I pull the right amount of power, I can pretty much start a taxi from a hover, continue, and initiate the hover again with little collective movement. On the other hand, if I keep the cyclic still and try to begin a hover taxi using only the collective I'm not going to get very far. I feel I must be missing something here, maybe somebody could explain this to me a little better. I've seen this question a few times and never understand how they get that answer.

[Whistlerpilot]

The first part of the question gives you the clue. To taxi on the SURFACE. Usually that means you have wheels. Think about ground taxi not hover taxi.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwbKzn8MC-k&feature=related

[r22butters]

I remember that one too.

 

There's another one I've come across a few times regarding one of my local airports, where all three answers are(technically)wrong! There was also one on the Instrument, that asked about helicopters, but the "correct" answer, was for airplanes!

 

I'm not sure if sometimes the test creators are just not paying close attention, or maybe they just don't want anyone to get 100%?

 

Sometimes you just have to memorize it.

[rjl2001]

OK, I get it now. Taxi on the surface. Wow, I wasted way too much time thinking about that one. Gotta think more outside the box I guess. Thanks for pointing that out.