The pilot and gunner collective pitch controls are located on the left side of the pilot and gunner seats and control vertical mode of flight. Moving the stick up or down changes the angle of attack and lift developed by the main rotor resulting in the ascent or descent of the helicopter. The collective assembly consists of a collective stick, with adjustable friction system ( pilot only ), twist grip-type throttle with friction adjuster, and switch box assembly ( pilot only ). The switch box assembly incorporates the ignition starter switch, rpm increase-decrease switch, jettison, searchlight switches, wire cut switch, and idle stop release switch. A collective hold down strap is provided for the pilot collective.

Setting the pilot or gunner throttle to the full open position allows the engine to operate up to full power available. Rotating the throttle back toward idle position decreases the allowable N2 and power which, if below that demanded by collective pitch input, results in proportional N2 speed decrease. Rotating the throttle past the engine idle stop to the fully closed position shuts off fuel flow. A solenoid operated idle stop is incorporated to prevent inadvertent throttle closure. The idle stop is controlled by the pilot IDLE STOP REL switch or the gunner IDLE STOP RELEASE switch. The engine idle stop release circuit is powered by the dc essential bus and protected by the IDLE STOP SOL circuit breaker. Friction can be induced into both throttles by rotating the pilot throttle friction counterclockwise.

The pilot RPM  INCR-DECR or gunner INCR-DECR [P]  INC-DECR [E] [M] switch is a three position, momentary-type switch located in the pilot collective switch box and gunner miscellaneous control panel. The switch is held forward to increase and aft to decrease the power turbine speed. The circuit is powered by the dc essential bus and protected by the GOV CONT [P]  GOV CONTR [E] [M] circuit breaker.

The pilot ignition-starter trigger switch is pressed and held to start the engine. The switch must be released manually when the engine starts or the time limit expires. The pilot Fuel switch must be in the Fuel position and the pilot ignition keylock switch in the On position to complete the ignition and start fuel circuit. The GEN switch must be in the OFF position for normal starting. The circuits are powered by the dc essential bus and protected by the START RLY and IGN SOL circuit breakers.

The search light consists of an IR bypass filter and a 150 watt sealed beam lamp installed on the standard search light housing to provide illumination during NVG operations under low ambient light conditions. The searchlight is powered by the dc essential bus and protected by the SRCH LT CONT [P]  SRCH LT CONTR [E] [M] circuit breaker.

SEARCH LIGHT SWITCH

The SRCH LT switch ON position illuminates the light. The OFF position deactivates the light. The stow position retracts the light into the fuselage well.

SEARCH LIGHT CONTROL SWITCH

The search light control switch EXT position extends the light from the fuselage well and moves it forward. RETR position moves the light aft. The L/R position move the light left and right.

Each of the four ejector racks are equipped with an electrically operated ballistic device to jettison the attached weapon during an emergency. Each device has two cartridges. The second cartridge fires automatically if the first fails to fire. Wing store jettison switches are located on the pilots miscellaneous control panel . The guarded jettison switch is located on the collective switch box. Activation of the switch will jettison the weapons from the inboard, outboard, or all four of the wing ejector racks. When four TOW missile launchers are installed on outboard wing stations, the TOW missile launchers will jettison prior to the inboard stores regardless of the jettison select switches position.