Which component provides automatic flight control and stability augmentation?

Which component provides automatic flight control and stability augmentation?

• A. Autopilot
• B. Antitorque Rotor
• C. Blade Damper
• D. Blade Coning

Answer: (A)

Automatic flight control and stability augmentation are provided by the autopilot. An autopilot automatically interprets pilot commands and sensor data to adjust the helicopter’s flight controls—cyclic, collective, and, when equipped, rudder—to maintain a commanded attitude, heading, altitude, or flight path. It continuously corrects for disturbances, smooths control inputs, and helps keep the aircraft stable in hover or during forward flight, reducing pilot workload. The other items listed don’t perform automatic flight control: the antitorque rotor counters main-rotor torque but doesn’t autonomously control flight; blade dampers reduce vibration; blade coning is the rotor blade’s outward bending under load and is not a control system.

Automatic flight control and stability augmentation are provided by the autopilot. An autopilot automatically interprets pilot commands and sensor data to adjust the helicopter’s flight controls—cyclic, collective, and, when equipped, rudder—to maintain a commanded attitude, heading, altitude, or flight path. It continuously corrects for disturbances, smooths control inputs, and helps keep the aircraft stable in hover or during forward flight, reducing pilot workload. The other items listed don’t perform automatic flight control: the antitorque rotor counters main-rotor torque but doesn’t autonomously control flight; blade dampers reduce vibration; blade coning is the rotor blade’s outward bending under load and is not a control system.