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Glite Dictionary
🚁 Rotor spinning 🍁 Seed spinning
autorotation

autorotation

1 8.2
A helicopter rotor that spins when air moves through it and lets the helicopter descend safely when the engine stops
  • noun
  • /ˌɔːtəroʊˈteɪʃən/
  • Specialized
: autorrotación
  • When a helicopter loses power, the pilot must initiate autorotation to safely land the aircraft.

Examples

  • And because they fly in a constant state of autorotation, even a total engine failure results in a parachute-like descent, say the makers of the Sport Copter gyroplane.

    Academic text (2008)

  • The emergency procedure for a helicopter includes autorotation in case of engine failure.

  • Learning about autorotation is crucial for helicopter pilots to handle potential emergencies.

Surface Forms

autorotation singular
autorotations plural

Morphology

autorotation = rotation (semi-transparent) = auto + rotate + ion

The word is built from 'auto-' plus 'rotation', and the general idea of self-spinning is clear, but the aviation-specific usage is technical.

Etymology

Autorotation breaks into auto- 'self' and rotation 'turning', like in automatic and rotate. So, in a helicopter it means the rotor keeps 'turning by itself' because of the air, not the engine, which lets a pilot descend safely in an emergency.