Settling with power is best described as which of the following?

• A. It is a condition of powered flight in which the helicopter settles in its own downwash
• B. It is a non-powered descent
• C. It is a climb with engine failure
• D. It is a crosswind hover

Answer: (C)

Settling with power is a condition of powered flight in which the helicopter descends in its own downwash. When the rotor is producing lift but the airspeed through the rotor is too low, the downward flow from the rotor is recirculated back through the rotor system, reducing effective lift and causing a rapid descent despite the available power. This typically happens during low-airspeed approaches or in a hover where you can’t generate enough translational speed to outpace the downwash.

It’s not a non-powered descent, since power is still being used, and it’s not a climb with engine failure, which would involve rising or maintaining altitude with a loss of thrust. It also isn’t a crosswind hover, which describes a hover with wind affecting lateral position rather than the descent into downwash. To exit, increase forward airspeed with forward cyclic to move out of the downwash while keeping rotor rpm in the green and stabilizing altitude.