Stabilizers
The stabilizers provide stability to the helicopter in the pitch and yaw axes when it is in forward flight. They consist of the components that follow:
Horizontal stabilizer
The horizontal stabilizer is mounted below the tailboom, and has leading edge slats. The horizontal stabilizer provides longitudinal stability to the helicopter in the pitch axis. It is securely attached under the tailboom.
The main body of the horizontal stabilizer is a one-piece aluminum skin and aluminum honeycomb structure with bonded machined aluminum inserts. Aluminum slats are riveted to its leading edge. It is attached to machined aluminum supports that are riveted to the tailboom.
The horizontal stabilizer is an inverted airfoil that provides a downward resultant lift on the tailboom. This in turn, assists in maintaining the cabin in a nearly level attitude during cruise flight. The leading edge slats are provided to assist with pitch stability during climbs. Position lights are installed on the outboard ends of the horizontal stabilizer.
Vertical stabilizer
The vertical stabilizer provides longitudinal stability to the helicopter in the yaw axis. It is securely attached to the tail rotor gearbox and empennage support on the right side.
The vertical stabilizer, composed primarily of aluminum skin and aluminum honeycomb construction, provides directional (yaw) stability and is mounted on the right side of the tail rotor gearbox support. It contains a top fairing to mount the anti-collision light, NAV/VOR/ILS antenna and a non adjustable damping weight. On the bottom of the vertical stabilizer, a rubber bumper and tail skid are provided to protect the tail rotor and fin in the event of a tail low landing.
The vertical stabilizer sweeps back, both above and below the tailboom. The leading edge is canted outboard 5.53° to the right to reduce the required amount of tail rotor thrust during forward flight at cruise speed. To assist with directional stability, a T shaped gurney flap is installed on the upper trailing edge of the vertical stabilizer.
Last updated