Definition
An adjustable resistance on the collective pitch control of a helicopter that holds the lever in a chosen position by applying mechanical friction. The pilot tightens or loosens it to set how much effort is needed to move the collective, helping prevent unwanted creep of the control during flight.
Plain English
A knob or lever that adds drag to the collective so it stays where you put it instead of drifting up or down on its own.
Context Anchor
Seen in helicopter cockpit checks, control setup, and instrument flying discussions where smooth, steady control is important.
Derivation
Collective comes from Latin 'colligere', meaning to gather together — the control gathers the pitch change of all rotor blades at once. Friction here keeps its everyday meaning: resistance to motion. Together: a resistance device on the lever that controls all the blades collectively.
Why Pilots Care
Reduces pilot workload and prevents unintended collective movement from vibration or fatigue, helping maintain stable altitude and power settings.
Analogy
It is like tightening the adjustment on a chair lever: loose enough to move when you want it to, but firm enough that it will not move by itself.
Intuition Check
Do not read friction here as a defect or unwanted rubbing. In this term, friction means a pilot-adjusted resistance that helps hold the collective control steady.
Example Sentence 1
After establishing cruise, the pilot applied a small amount of collective pitch friction to keep the lever from creeping down.
Example Sentence 2
With collective pitch friction properly adjusted, the helicopter held altitude without constant pressure on the collective during the ILS approach.