Definition
In a helicopter, a control input made with the anti-torque pedals to change tail rotor thrust, keeping the nose aligned and the aircraft in trim. Pedal adjustment is used to coordinate flight, counter changes in main rotor torque, and maintain the desired heading.
Plain English
Pressing the foot pedals to keep the helicopter's nose pointed where you want it. As power changes, the helicopter wants to twist, and the pedals stop that twist.
Context Anchor
Seen in helicopter instrument flying when setting or correcting trim so the helicopter holds a steady heading without constant foot pressure.
Derivation
Pedal comes from a Latin word meaning “foot.” That helps here because helicopter pedals are foot-operated controls. Adjustment means a small change made to bring something into the right position or condition.
Why Pilots Care
Correct pedal adjustment reduces workload and prevents uncoordinated flight that can quickly lead to spatial disorientation under instrument conditions.
Intuition Check
Pedal adjustment does not mean changing the physical distance of the pedals from the seat in this context. Here it means making a control or trim correction with the pedals so the helicopter stays aligned.
Example Sentence 1
As the pilot raised the collective to climb, a small left pedal adjustment kept the nose from swinging right.
Example Sentence 2
The instructor had the student perform a pedal adjustment each time the collective was changed so the nose would not wander during instrument practice.