Which maneuver is most likely to encounter ULY during transitions from crosswind to downwind?

• A. Left Sideward Flight
• B. Low Pedal Marding Maneuvers
• C. Pilot Induced High Yaw Rates
• D. Low Speed Left Downwind Turns

Answer: (D)

When you’re transitioning from a crosswind to a downwind condition, the helicopter’s aerodynamic forces change quickly, and yaw control becomes more sensitive at low airspeeds. Tail-rotor anti-torque relies on effective airflow; as you enter a downwind leg at low speed, the tail rotor sees a different wind angle and less consistent downwash, reducing yaw damping. Translational lift is diminishing, and small gusts or pilot input lag can push the aircraft into an uncommanded yaw. Left downwind turns are especially prone to this because the yaw moment interacts with the tail-rotor/torque dynamics in a way that makes uncommanded yaw more likely during the slow, transitional phase. So this maneuver presents the highest likelihood of encountering uncommanded yaw during the crosswind-to-downwind transition.