In hover, a tail rotor failure will typically cause:

In hover, a tail rotor failure will typically cause:

• A. Excessive climb
• B. Uncommanded yaw
• C. Immediate descent
• D. No effect

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that tail rotor thrust cancels the torque the main rotor creates. In hover, the rotor system spins the helicopter fuselage in the opposite direction unless anti-torque is applied. When the tail rotor fails, there’s no longer any counter-torque to balance that spin, so the helicopter yaws uncontrollably in response to the main rotor’s torque. This uncommanded yaw is the typical and immediate effect you’d observe. It isn’t about climbing or descending, and it isn’t a “no effect” situation—the loss of anti-torque leaves the aircraft without a heading-control mechanism.

The main idea is that tail rotor thrust cancels the torque the main rotor creates. In hover, the rotor system spins the helicopter fuselage in the opposite direction unless anti-torque is applied. When the tail rotor fails, there’s no longer any counter-torque to balance that spin, so the helicopter yaws uncontrollably in response to the main rotor’s torque. This uncommanded yaw is the typical and immediate effect you’d observe. It isn’t about climbing or descending, and it isn’t a “no effect” situation—the loss of anti-torque leaves the aircraft without a heading-control mechanism.