Pitch Gauge instructions
last updated 2-7-2004

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I have received several emails from new pilots that said there were no instructions with their pitch gauge and needed to know how to work it. I can understand how this would be confusing if you have not seen one used before. And I don't think any pitch gauge comes with instructions, you would think they would come with a brief description or at least a picture :)

In the pictures above you see the pitch gauge is mounted to the last 1/3 of the blade. The reason you use the last 1/3 of the blade is because that is where almost all of the lift comes from. So if the blade is warped (twisted slightly) then measuring the last third is the part that counts. As you see in my pictures the blades are stretched out and inline with the tailboom. Now notice the pitch gauge has two movable parts to it. There is a thumb screw at the pivot point that you loosen off just enough so you can move the pointer yet it still has enough resistance that it does not freely change position when you are not holding it. Next with the radio on and swashplate level you angle the pointer (the part that points to the numbers on the gauge) until the top edge is parallel with the flybar. You can see in the picture on the right that there is an even gap between the flybar and the edge of the gauge. Once this is level you look at the number the pointer is at and this will tell you the degree of pitch the blades are at.

NOTES:
The pitch gauges have the numbers setup so 0 degrees is in the center of the gauge and the numbers increase going both directions. However you will notice that it does not say which side is for negative pitch and which is for positive pitch. This is because it depends on the helicopter. Some helicopters use clockwise rotating heads and the others use anti-clockwise. So the easiest way to tell if the number the pointer is at is positive or negative is to look at the blade. If the leading edge side of the blade (the thicker side) is higher then the trailing edge (the thin side) then you are measuring positive pitch.

When measuring the pitch you should have the flybar level. Some helicopters such as the Xcell Fury requires a special tool called a flybar lock that makes the flybar exactly level. If the flybar is not level then the readings you take will not be correct. Helicopters like the Raptor do not need a flybar lock.

TIP:
Sometimes the numbers on the pitch gauge are not printed in the correct spot and therefore the measurements you take will not be correct. An easy way to check the pitch gauge is to set it to the mark for zero degrees then move the collective pitch so the gauge is level with the flybar. Now take the pitch gauge off and turn it upside down and put it back on the blade. If the gauge is level with the flybar then it is accurate.