autorotate
/ˌɔːtoʊˈroʊteɪt/
verb
- Of a helicopter rotor: to spin freely using the force of the air, allowing a safe descent when the engine fails.
- When the engine stopped, the blades began to autorotate and the helicopter landed safely.
- Students learn how to autorotate as part of their helicopter flight training.
- The pilot trained to autorotate the helicopter to the ground during an engine failure.