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FAA Commercial Pilot Helicopter Knowledge Test Practice Test

The FAA Commercial Pilot Helicopter Knowledge Test (CRH) covers aeronautical knowledge for commercial helicopter operations. Practice questions sample rotor aerodynamics, helicopter performance, flight planning, weather judgment, collision avoidance, and cockpit procedures. The material connects aerodynamic effects such as dissymmetry of lift and translational lift with decisions pilots make during hover, transition, and forward flight.

Exam overview

Exam providerFederal Aviation Administration
Exam codeCRH
CategoryAviation

About the FAA Commercial Pilot Helicopter Knowledge Test Exam

Helicopter pilots need to relate rotor-system behavior to aircraft control and performance. Concepts represented in the practice bank include how dissymmetry of lift affects the rotor in forward flight, why translational lift changes power requirements during acceleration from a hover, and how high density altitude can reduce the performance of a naturally aspirated piston engine and rotor system. Operational questions also address assessing thunderstorm threats, maintaining separation from nearby traffic, and recognizing a stabilized approach. System and procedure topics include pitot-static system purpose, mixture control, accessible emergency equipment, and clear communication with air traffic control when an instruction is uncertain or cannot be followed. Working through these subjects develops the ability to connect aircraft systems, environmental conditions, and sound flight decisions.

Sample Practice Questions

Review a selection from this exam's published US Practice Tests practice bank.

Question 1

In forward flight, what does dissymmetry of lift refer to on a helicopter rotor?

  1. AThe advancing and retreating blades experience different relative airflow and would produce unequal lift without compensating effects.
  2. BThe main rotor and tail rotor produce equal thrust in opposite directions.
  3. CThe helicopter experiences less lift at high density altitude than at low density altitude.
  4. DThe rotor blades produce no lift while the helicopter is translating.
Show answerCorrect answer: A

In forward flight, the advancing blade has greater relative airflow than the retreating blade. Rotor flapping and related aerodynamic effects help balance lift across the disk; dissymmetry of lift describes the underlying difference that must be compensated for.

Question 2

A pilot sees a thunderstorm developing near the intended route. Which planning choice is generally the safest?

  1. APlan a route that avoids the storm with ample separation, or delay the flight
  2. BFly beneath the cloud to remain out of its strongest winds
  3. CProceed directly toward it and rely on visual cues to find a gap
  4. DReduce airspeed and continue through the storm’s edge
Show answerCorrect answer: A

Thunderstorms can produce severe turbulence, strong wind shifts, hail, lightning, and other hazards. A conservative plan is to avoid them with substantial separation or postpone the flight rather than attempting to penetrate or skirt them closely.

Question 3

A helicopter is operating near another aircraft in flight. Which action best supports collision avoidance?

  1. AMaintain an effective visual scan and make timely, predictable avoidance maneuvers when needed
  2. BLook only at the instrument panel because traffic is easier to detect there
  3. CAssume the other pilot will always see and avoid your helicopter
  4. DMake abrupt turns whenever another aircraft is noticed
Show answerCorrect answer: A

An effective outside scan and timely, predictable action help reduce collision risk. Pilots should not assume another aircraft has seen them, and abrupt maneuvers can create additional hazards.

Question 4

What does a helicopter pilot generally mean by a stabilized approach?

  1. AAn approach with a controlled flight path, appropriate speed, and power adjustments made early enough to maintain a safe landing profile
  2. BAn approach in which the pilot holds one fixed power setting regardless of conditions
  3. CAn approach that requires the helicopter to remain stationary above the landing site
  4. DAn approach made without checking wind direction
Show answerCorrect answer: A

A stabilized approach is one in which the aircraft is on a predictable, controlled path with suitable speed and configuration, allowing the pilot to make adjustments without rushed maneuvering. Specific criteria depend on the operation and aircraft.

Question 5

Why is a helicopter’s fire extinguisher, if carried, normally secured and accessible to occupants?

  1. ASo it is available for prompt use while restrained against becoming a loose-object hazard
  2. BSo it can be used to adjust cabin pressure
  3. CSo it remains warm enough to increase engine power
  4. DSo it can substitute for the aircraft’s required fuel shutoff controls
Show answerCorrect answer: A

Proper stowage keeps emergency equipment accessible while preventing it from becoming a hazardous loose object. An extinguisher does not replace aircraft systems or their prescribed emergency procedures.

Question 6

What is the primary purpose of a helicopter’s pitot-static system?

  1. ATo provide pressure information used by instruments such as the airspeed indicator and altimeter.
  2. BTo determine the chemical composition of the engine exhaust.
  3. CTo measure rotor blade tracking from the cockpit.
  4. DTo supply hydraulic pressure to the flight controls.
Show answerCorrect answer: A

The pitot-static system senses impact and ambient static pressure. These pressure inputs support instruments including the airspeed indicator, altimeter, and vertical speed indicator, depending on the installation.

Question 7

In a piston-engine helicopter, what is the general purpose of the mixture control?

  1. ATo regulate the fuel-to-air ratio delivered to the engine.
  2. BTo change the helicopter’s rotor RPM directly.
  3. CTo control the amount of cooling air passing through the engine.
  4. DTo adjust the pitch angle of the tail rotor blades.
Show answerCorrect answer: A

The mixture control adjusts the proportion of fuel relative to air supplied to a piston engine. Correct leaning or enrichment depends on the engine, operating conditions, and its approved procedures.

How to use this practice test

The free US Practice Tests practice bank contains 50 published questions. Each session presents up to 20 questions selected at random, allowing you to revisit helicopter performance, rotor aerodynamics, weather decisions, and operating procedures in varying combinations. Results appear after the session; use missed answers to identify concepts that need targeted review.

Preparation tips

  • Sketch how advancing- and retreating-blade conditions relate to dissymmetry of lift, then explain how the rotor system accommodates the difference in forward flight.
  • Compare power requirements in a hover and during acceleration into effective translational lift; connect the change to the helicopter's transition to forward flight.
  • For a high-density-altitude scenario, trace the effects on a naturally aspirated piston engine and rotor performance before deciding whether the aircraft can meet the planned operating demands.
  • Practice weather and traffic scenarios by identifying the hazard first, then stating a conservative routing, separation, or delay decision.
  • Review the purpose of the pitot-static system and mixture control, and rehearse concise ATC communication when an instruction is unclear or impractical.
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