Operational Procedures
Normal and emergency procedures
Know the standard operating procedures for pre-flight, start-up, hover checks, takeoff, approach and landing, and the emergency procedures in the flight manual: autorotation, engine failure, tail rotor failure, fire, and forced landing. Understand the autorotation entry - lower collective to maintain rotor RPM, maintain airspeed, and flare at the end. Know the difference between a powered and an unpowered approach.
Safety and emergencies
Know the emergency checklist logic: aviate, navigate, communicate. Understand the use of the transponder (squawk 7700 for emergency, 7600 for radio failure, 7500 for unlawful interference). Know the meaning of the marshalling signals, the sterile cockpit, and the procedures for a precautionary landing and for reporting an accident.
Traps
Questions confuse the squawk codes, or ask what to do first in an emergency (fly the aircraft). Another trap is the tail rotor failure procedure - the correct response depends on whether the failure is in hover or in forward flight. Watch for items on the use of the collective in autorotation: lowering it reduces induced flow and preserves RPM.
Rule of thumb
In any emergency, the first action is to maintain control of the aircraft; the checklist comes after.