How would a helicopter deal with auto rotation when it transports a hanging payload? How would a helicopter deal with auto rotation when it has a payload? Will it deploy it's payload and continue with auto rotation as normal? Can't find much online, this research is for my senior design.



Any help would be greatly appreciated. If you can give me something to read and learn further for myself, that would also be great.
In theory, with that load, the rotor revs will be higher during the descent, and releasing the load just before flaring will give the pilot more rotor energy to control the aircraft with the collective in the last stage of the landing.

But it would be more prudent, in my opinion, to release the load as soon as possible. After all, in any dead stick landing, the lighter the aircraft, the better...