The anti-torque pedals control movement about which axis?

• A. Pitch axis
• B. Roll axis
• C. Longitudinal axis
• D. Yaw axis

Answer: (D)

Anti-torque pedals govern rotation around the vertical axis, which is the yaw movement. In a helicopter, the main rotor’s torque tends to spin the fuselage in the opposite direction. The tail rotor (or equivalent anti-torque device) changes thrust to counter that torque. Pressing the pedals increases or decreases tail rotor thrust, making the tail swing left or right and turning the helicopter’s heading. So the axis being controlled is the yaw (vertical) axis. The other controls influence pitch and roll by tilting the rotor disk and lifting or lowering lift, not by adjusting tail rotor thrust.