Rushing Your Pickup? That’s How Dynamic Rollovers Happen

Oct 13, 2025

There’s a reason examiners seem to know within the first few minutes whether a check-ride will go smoothly.
It’s not magic — it’s the pickup.

In today’s Final Approach Course story, Kenny shares why that first moment — before you’ve even left the ground — reveals everything an examiner needs to see: awareness, discipline, control, and respect for the machine.

Too many pilots rush it. And that’s where things go wrong.


The Pickup That Tells the Whole Story

Every examiner has a silent checklist running in their mind. They’re not only evaluating your maneuvers — they’re reading you.

The moment your hand hits the collective, they’re watching:

  • Are you smooth and deliberate?

  • Are you checking for neutral attitude?

  • Are you making small corrections, or yanking the controls?

Because if the pickup is sloppy, rushed, or jerky — the examiner already knows what’s coming next. It’s not just about lifting off; it’s about showing that you can handle the helicopter without it handling you.


Slow, Smooth, and Methodical Wins Every Time

Kenny often teaches this as a mantra:

“Slow. Smooth. Methodical.”

That’s the foundation of safe helicopter control. A slow, two-stage pickup shows you understand the aircraft, not just operate it.

Stage one: bring in just enough collective to feel the skids start to get light.
Pause. Feel the balance. Are you drifting left or right? Is it stable?

Stage two: once you’re balanced and stable, lift smoothly into a hover.
It’s calm. It’s quiet. It’s under control.

That’s how you show an examiner you’re a professional pilot — not someone rushing to “get flying.”



Why Rushing the Pickup Leads to Rollovers

It’s not an exaggeration — real helicopters have been lost to bad pickups.
When a pilot rushes through the process, they miss subtle cues: a heavy skid, a drift, or a yaw correction that needs to happen before lift-off.

Those small oversights can quickly turn into a dynamic rollover — one of the fastest, most unforgiving accidents in rotorcraft flying.
And once the helicopter starts tipping, it’s over in seconds.

That’s why Kenny always says:

“You don’t get extra points for fast. You get to go home because you were slow and smooth.”


What Examiners Notice in the First 30 Seconds

From the time the helicopter gets light on the skids, examiners are already making mental notes.

Do you:
- Guard the controls correctly?
- Make small, smooth inputs?
- Pause to read the aircraft before committing to the hover?

These habits speak louder than any maneuver later in the flight. The pickup sets the tone. If you’re calm, deliberate, and aware from the start, you’re already showing the mindset of a safe, check-ride-ready pilot.


The Takeaway: Train the Way You Fly

Good habits don’t happen by accident — they’re built through repetition, reflection, and great instruction.
That’s exactly what the Final Approach Course was designed for.

If your training has dragged on, or you’re stuck waiting for that check-ride signoff, stop waiting. Come train where the schedule moves at your pace, not someone else’s.

📍 FinalApproachCourse.com
📞 Call or Text Heather: (574) 767-1797


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