Vortex ring state is generally caused by allowing the aircraft to descend into its own ______.

Vortex ring state is generally caused by allowing the aircraft to descend into its own ______.

• A. Wake turbulence
• B. Rotor wash
• C. Prop wash
• D. Jet wash

Answer: (B)

Vortex ring state happens when the helicopter descends into the air being moved downward by its own rotor. That downward air can wrap back into the rotor disk and form a toroidal ring of recirculating flow, which reduces the effective airflow through the rotor and lowers lift. The result is a sudden increase in sink rate and a loss of maneuverability if you stay in that downwash loop. This is most likely when you’re near hover with a high descent rate and not enough forward airspeed to push you out of the rotor’s downwash. It isn’t caused by external wake turbulence, propeller wash, or jet exhaust—the issue is the rotor’s own downwash recirculating through the rotor system.

Vortex ring state happens when the helicopter descends into the air being moved downward by its own rotor. That downward air can wrap back into the rotor disk and form a toroidal ring of recirculating flow, which reduces the effective airflow through the rotor and lowers lift. The result is a sudden increase in sink rate and a loss of maneuverability if you stay in that downwash loop. This is most likely when you’re near hover with a high descent rate and not enough forward airspeed to push you out of the rotor’s downwash. It isn’t caused by external wake turbulence, propeller wash, or jet exhaust—the issue is the rotor’s own downwash recirculating through the rotor system.