What happens if a pilot increases collective in a settling with power situation?

Increasing the collective in a settling with power situation aggravates the problem due to the inherent nature of how helicopters operate. In this scenario, the helicopter is experiencing a descent when the rotor system is still demanding more power to maintain its current load. By increasing the collective, the pilot attempts to increase lift; however, this leads to a further increase in power demand without an accompanying increase in available power, especially if the helicopter is already in a low-speed, high-drag state.

Instead of providing additional lift, the additional power may simply result in a further loss of control or may lead to a stall of the rotor blades, compounding the descent rate. This scenario underscores the critical importance of understanding the relationship between power and performance in helicopters. The appropriate action would typically involve reducing the collective and transitioning to a more controlled flight state, such as entering forward flight or adjusting the angle of descent to avoid a more severe situation.