Which flight condition can contribute to settling with power?

Settling with power, also known as "Vortex Ring State," occurs when the helicopter descends into its own downwash or vortex, leading to an increase in sink rate and reduction in lift. Aggressive approaches with a tailwind can exacerbate this condition because during such approaches, the helicopter may not achieve effective translational lift. Tailwinds can increase the descent rate and make it difficult for the rotor system to maintain adequate lift. When the helicopter encounters its own downwash while descending aggressively, particularly with the added influence of a tailwind, it can lead to settling with power conditions.

Hovering, flight at high altitude, and descending without power are not conditions that inherently contribute to settling with power. In steady-state hovering, for instance, the helicopter generates lift sufficiently, and altitude affects performance but does not specifically lead to vortex ring state in the same context as an aggressive approach with a tailwind.