How does the pilot correct for blowback?

• A. Forward cyclic
• B. Backward cyclic
• C. Collective pitch increase
• D. Pedal input

Answer: (A)

Blowback is a pitch tendency caused by the rotor downwash and the way the lift vector interacts with the helicopter’s center of gravity. To correct for this, you tilt the main rotor disk forward with forward cyclic. Pushing the cyclic forward moves the lift vector in front of the aircraft’s center of gravity, creating a nose-down moment that counters the aft or nose-up tendency produced by the blowback. It also helps establish a forward component of thrust, improving stability in the hover.

Backward cyclic would tilt the rotor disk the opposite way, increasing the nose-up tendency and making the blowback worse. Increasing collective changes overall lift but does not produce the necessary pitch moment to counteract the blowback. Pedal input controls yaw through the tail rotor, not the pitch attitude caused by rotor downwash. So forward cyclic is the correct response to counteract blowback.