Which flight control counteracts main rotor torque and controls yaw?

• A. Increase lift
• B. Adjust collective pitch
• C. Counteract main rotor torque and control yaw
• D. Control cyclic in roll

Answer: (C)

The key idea is anti-torque and yaw control. When the main rotor spins, it creates torque on the fuselage in the opposite direction. To keep the helicopter from spinning, an anti-torque device—usually a tail rotor—produces thrust to counter that torque. By using pedals, the pilot changes the tail rotor blade pitch to increase or decrease this thrust, which makes the aircraft yaw (rotate) left or right as needed. That direct link between counteracting the main rotor torque and controlling yaw is why this choice best describes the function. Increasing lift or adjusting collective pitch changes how much lift the rotor produces, not the anti-torque effect, and controlling the cyclic mainly affects roll and pitch, not yaw.