A pilot explains that the maneuver used in the crash that killed Troy Gentry and his pilot, James Evans Robinson, in New Jersey is typically used only in emergency situations.
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Autorotation is a technique of powering off the engine to allow the rotor to rotate freely. It's meant to increase resistance with the blades, essentially gliding the aircraft to the ground.
NewsChannel5's Sky5 pilot, Jason Morgan said he sees the maneuver practiced by budding pilots and veterans alike at John C. Tune airport.
"When that engine quits, there's clutch that kind of releases that and allows the air to come up from the bottom of the rotor system and turn the blades that way," said Tune.
Thursday, a helicopter duo was practicing the maneuver, doing four in the time period of an hour. Inside that helicopter was instructor Levi Davis.
"Contrary to what a lot of people think, they think if the helicopter's engine quits, it'll immediately fall out of the air like a rock," said Davis. "That's not true, if the pilot handles the controls correctly, you can actually glide, stop on the end, and set it down."
The NTSB has said Robinson likely lost power due to engine trouble, which would be a typical time to use the technique.
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