What Is Dutch Roll

Dutch Roll: An Aircraft Motion

What is Dutch Roll?

Dutch roll is a combination of rolling and yawing oscillations that occurs when the dihedral effects of an aircraft are insufficient to prevent the aircraft from rolling in response to a yawing motion.

Characteristics of Dutch Roll

Dutch roll is characterised by a continuous back and forth rolling and a damped oscillation in yaw about the oz axis of the aircraft. The transfer functions of Dutch roll mode are typically dominated by a lightly damped mode.

Causes of Dutch Roll

Dutch roll is caused by the interaction of the aircraft's dihedral effect and its rudder. The dihedral effect is the tendency of an aircraft to roll in the direction opposite to a yawing motion. The rudder is used to control the aircraft's yawing motion. If the rudder is not properly adjusted, it can cause the aircraft to Dutch roll.

Effects of Dutch Roll

Dutch roll can make it difficult to control an aircraft. It can also cause the aircraft to lose altitude or even crash. Proper adjustment of the rudder is essential to prevent Dutch roll.