Which action is a correct ground crew safety consideration regarding the tail rotor?

Which action is a correct ground crew safety consideration regarding the tail rotor?

• A. Stay away from tail rotor
• B. Stand near tail rotor for visibility
• C. Lean into rotor wash
• D. Touch the rotor guard

Answer: (A)

The safest ground crew practice around a helicopter’s tail rotor is to stay well clear of it. The tail rotor can cause severe injury or death because it spins at very high speed and can strike suddenly, even if the aircraft looks stationary. Debris and rotor wash from the tail rotor can also blast you or knock you off balance, so staying outside its arc minimizes risk. Approach only when the rotor is fully secured and the area is designated safe by the supervisor, and communicate with the pilot from a safe distance rather than moving close to the tail. Leaning into rotor wash or touching the rotor guard while the rotor could move is dangerous, so these actions should be avoided.

The safest ground crew practice around a helicopter’s tail rotor is to stay well clear of it. The tail rotor can cause severe injury or death because it spins at very high speed and can strike suddenly, even if the aircraft looks stationary. Debris and rotor wash from the tail rotor can also blast you or knock you off balance, so staying outside its arc minimizes risk. Approach only when the rotor is fully secured and the area is designated safe by the supervisor, and communicate with the pilot from a safe distance rather than moving close to the tail. Leaning into rotor wash or touching the rotor guard while the rotor could move is dangerous, so these actions should be avoided.