Low Hover Single Engine maneuvers should be performed from a hover altitude not exceeding how many feet RADALT?

• A. 5 ft RADALT
• B. 10 ft RADALT
• C. 15 ft RADALT
• D. 20 ft RADALT

Answer: (B)

In low hover maneuvers with one engine inoperative, you need to keep the helicopter within a tight altitude margin so you have enough reaction time and control authority if something unexpected happens. Staying at or below a small height above ground helps you stay in ground effect, which gives you extra lift at the rotor tips and makes control more forgiving while you’re managing a reduced power situation.

The permissible limit is 10 feet RADALT because it provides a safe, practical balance: high enough to avoid being overly restrictive, but not so high that you lose the cushion needed to recover from a momentary loss of lift or control in OEI conditions. Going higher than 10 feet would reduce your margin for a rapid, safe transition to a landing or to controlled flight if the engine suddenly underperforms.

Five feet would be more conservative than required, since the maximum allowed is 10 feet. Fifteen and twenty feet exceed the specified limit for this maneuver, increasing risk in an OEI hover.