To recover from vortex ring state, which action sequence is recommended?

• A. Maintain current controls
• B. Increase the collective
• C. Apply forward cyclic to increase forward airspeed, then reduce collective
• D. Apply aft cyclic and increase collective

Answer: (C)

The action that helps you recover from vortex ring state is to push the helicopter into undisturbed air by increasing forward airspeed, then adjust by reducing collective. In vortex ring state you’re descending into the rotor’s own downwash, which robs lift and can drive you deeper if you don’t change your airspeed. Pushing the cyclic forward accelerates the helicopter and moves it out of that disturbed flow, restoring effective rotor lift as you enter cleaner air. Once you’ve gained forward speed and are out of the ring, easing the collective helps relieve rotor load and lets the rotor system recover without driving the descent harder. Maintaining current controls or pulling aft cyclic would keep you in the bad flow, and not increasing forward airspeed won’t break out of the vortex. This sequence—forward cyclic to gain airspeed, then reducing collective—is the controlled path to exit VRS smoothly.