CPL Flight Test Questions

State the requirements of a Commercial Pilot Licence (Helicopter)

1. Hold a current class 1 medical certificate

2. Act as pilot-in-command of an aircraft that is certificated for single pilot operation and engaged on an operation for hire or reward:

3. Act as pilot-in-command of an aircraft that is certificated for multi-pilot operation and engaged on an operation for hire or reward, that is not an air transport operation: 

4. Act as co-pilot of an aircraft that is certificated for multi-pilot operation and engaged on an operation for hire or reward. 

Max Alt

13,000 ft

Max OAT

ISA + 30C

Vne power-on

130 kts IAS

Vne power-off

110 kts IAS 

 

Normal Operating Nr Power O

515- 540 RPM 

Normal Operating Nr Power Off

450 – 610 RPM

Rotor brake min

150 RPM 

High Horn

> 594 RPM 

Low Horn

466 RPM  

Engine Operating Range

2585- 2700 RPM

CHT Temp

max 260 C

Oil Temp Min

min 60 C

Fuel Tank Capacity

170 L

Unusable Fuel

1.5 L

PWR Limit

5 min power 160hp.

Yellow Range Pwr

145 hp used for 5 minutes upto 30kt IAS. 

Max GW

700 kg

Foward luggage

max 5 kg

Main luggage Weight Max

88 kg  

MLI

Engine speed, throttle position, OAT, ambient air pressure. 

Power Plant Type

Textron Lycoming O360-J2A 

  Four cylinder, hori opposed, direct drive, air cooled, normally aspirated, carb equipped, one mag + one electronic ignition system 

Engine Cooling system

Direct drive squirrel cage blower

BARC

Fuel and Rotor Alarm Drive 

Best Range Speed

80 kts

Max gusts for start up/shut down  

40 kts

Gascolator Purpose

Filters impurities and water before entering the engine (Clean + Dry Fuel!)

Min oil MGB

½ filled

Min oil TGB

2/3 filled

Cabri A/C Length

6.31m

Blade diameter

7.2m  

TR Blade RPM

: 5148 RPM

Engine Speed:

2650 RPM

Standard Rate Turn (Rate-1)

3 degree per sec OR 180 per minute.

Drop last digit from airspeed and ADD 7. E.g. 60kt = 6+7 = 13 degrees AoB.

M/R Blade Composition

Carbon and fiberglass reinforced composite with internal steel tip weight to increase rotor interia. Soft in plane.

Rotor Hub Material

Forged aluminum alloy

Pitch change in T/R Blades

Pitch change is permitted by the T/R blade stainless-steel laminated tension- torsion pack.  

MGB & TGB Type

Splash-lubricated spiral bevel gear set which transmits power to the rotor mast. Equipped with filler plug/breather, sight gage and self-closing mag chip detector 

Clutch Process

Clutch tension actuator is fed by engine oil pressure through a four-way distributor, controlled by CLUTCH switch. System is frozen in case the electrical power is shutdown. Non-return valve maintains the clutch engaged and the belt tensioned in case of pressure drop.  

How do you know if your AIP & VNC is current?  

📢”AIP NZ Update Cycle 2025, Supplements monthly, Amendments + Supplements Bimonthly” 

Documents to be carried?  

📢” FARTW, CAA  2129 Radio & CAA 2173 W/B ” 

Rules around ages carried passengers on knee ? 

📢” Under four years old” 

Life Jacket Rules? 

📢” 1 per pax, 

VFR Met Minima Rules?  

📢”C,D,E:  2km Horiz, 1000 ft Vert or 500 Ft. F & G: 2km Hori, 1000 ft Vert” 

 

Currency requirements? 

📢” 3 Takeoff’s/Landings on type, Current Medical, BFR (or equivalent).

Fuel Reserves? 

📢” 20 minutes, or equal duration for flights under 20 minutes, Heli-Nelson has 30 min reserve under Part 135”

Medical validity? 

📢” Class 1, 1 yr. Class 2, 5yr” 

Restricted OR Danger OR Military areas? 

📢” No access unless prior approval and complies with conditions” 

MBZ? 

📢” Frequent radio transmissions at prescribed intervals (entry/exit). 

Parachute area? 

” ALL aircraft”

Low Flying Zones? 

” Only dual instruction with briefing on boundaries” 

Volcanic hazard zones? 

” Not at night, IMC, only if deemed safe by met/NOTAM reports by pilot during day” 

Seat Belts? 

📢” Yes, at all times for each passenger unless PIC deems safe enough to remove” 

Emergency transponder codes? 

75, 76, 77

Circuit transponder code? 

” 1500 for civilian helicopters”

Minimum Heights?

📢” Congested 1000 ft (600m horizontally), 500 ft (150 m horizontally)” 

ELT Test? 

” Freq 121.5, first five mins of the hr, three sweeps, no longer than 20 secs”

Daylight tables? 

”MCT and ECT information, NZDT & NZST”

Aircraft to aircraft chat frequency? 

”128.95”

Comms failure ? 

📢”Squawk 7600” 

Give way rules in the air? 

📢” Give way to aircraft on your right” 

 

Elevation number on VNC? 

Elevation listed in each square is the maximum elevation for that geographical location”

Aircraft ADs? 

” Promulgating document for continued airworthiness of an aircraft”

Hover power failure (8ft)

Left pedal, raise collective to cushion the lower. 

Power failure during takeoff:

Left pedal, aft cyclic, raise collective, pedals to minimize ground drift, lower collective.

In flight Engine Failure

Lower collective, 60 kts, NR in green arc, aft cyclic, forward to level, raise collective, pedals to minimize ground drift.

Confined failures

maintain IAS – 30 kts

Engine Failure > 2000 ft

Best glide ratio 80 kts, NR mid yellow arc (480 rpm), at 300 ft, 50 kts IAS, green arc. 

Ditching

equal between wind and waves, open door, keep collective up after contact to help rotor deceleration. 

Inflight restart

Boost pump on, mix full rich, ignition both ON, 50% throttle (90% twist grip), press starter. 

Fire On the ground:

cabin heat OFF, fuel valve OFF, all switches OFF, rotor brake ON. 

In flight Engine Failure

Land immediately, cabin heat OFF, lower collective, fuel valve OFF, fuel pump OFF, autorotation, rotor brake.

Electrical Fire In Flight

Alternator OFF, Masters OFF., NR backup, NR lights to monitor speed (note NO governor).

T/R Failure Hovering IGE:

Reduce throttle, cushion with collective up

T/R Failure Inflight

Governor OFF, 70-80 kts, auto running landing, reduce airspeed as late as you can. 

Governor failure

Hold twist grip firmly to overtake the governor action, switch governor off, regulate in the green arc, continue flight.  

EPM failure

Land as soon as possible, switch NR to backup, control carb heat manually, COLD for high power.

EPM failure Over Temp Signal Means?

Over temp signal on screen shuts down 30 sec later after indication. 

MLI failure

Do not exceed 80 kt IAS in level power.  Make cautious landing not more than take-off power. 

Nose right

Engine failure

Nose left

Tail failure

METAR Issue Freq

Every 1 Hr (Complied Manually)

METAR AUTO Issue Freq

Every ½ Hour

SPECI METAR Issue Time

Only at NZWP, NZOH, NZMF. Issued when required.

TAF

Issued 1 hr before validity start (1 hr earlier during NZDT)

SIGMET Issue Freq

As required, Issued up to four hrs before validity starts (12 hrs before for Volanic Ash and tropical cyclones)

GNZSIGWX Issue Times

0200,0800,1400 and 2000

GRAFOR Issue Time

Graphical Aviation Forecast: SFC- 10k Ft 1100 & 2100

AAW Issue Time

1100 & 2100

ATIS Issue Freq

Irregularly, when conditions change or deteriorate.

Pwr Check: HIGE

35% MLI

Pwr Check: HOGE

40% MLI

Pwr Check: Zero Speed Landing

30% MLI

Pwr Check: Running Landing

25% MLI

Pwr Check:Towering T/O

25% MLI

Pwr Check: Max Performance

20% MLI

Pwr Check: Normal Transition

Pwr Check: 15%

Pax Safety Briefing

Moving Parts (Slopes, Low Blades), Loose Items (Phones, Caps), In the Aircraft (First Aid Kit, Headsets, Satellite GPS, Fire Extinguisher, Axe, Survival Kit, Fuel Shut Off and Rotor Brake).

Pedal Jam Checks

1. Check Pedals for Forgein Objects

2. PAN PAN Call

3. Pax Breifing

4. Location & Land

5. Minimum Control Speed

6. “I would gently run it on the ground here.

7. Right Pedal = No/Low Speed/ Left= High Speed

ONUS

Overshoot North, Undershoot South