Autopilot recoupling for rotorcraft

1. An autopilot recoupling system for a rotorcraft having an automatic flight control system with multiple layers of flight augmentation, a manual flight mode and a coupled flight mode, the autopilot recoupling system comprising:

a go-around input on a collective pitch control lever that initiates a go-around maneuver to discontinue a landing approach when actuated in the coupled flight mode and that generates an autopilot recoupling signal responsive to a single actuation in the manual flight mode;

an autopilot recoupling signal processor communicably coupled to the go-around input, the autopilot recoupling signal processor configured to:

receive the autopilot recoupling signal from the go-around input and responsive thereto;

determine a state of the automatic flight control system; and

sequence the layers of the automatic flight control system by:

first, activating a trim systems layer of the automatic flight control system if the trim systems layer is not active, the trim systems layer for cyclic pitch control;

second, engaging an attitude retention systems layer of the automatic flight control system if the attitude retention systems layer is disengaged; and

third, recoupling an autopilot systems layer of the automatic flight control system, thereby automatically increasing the level of augmentation from the manual flight mode to the coupled flight mode.

2. The autopilot recoupling system as recited in claim 1 wherein the autopilot recoupling signal processor is further configured to delay engagement of the attitude retention systems layer of the automatic flight control system until the trim systems layer of the automatic flight control system is active.

3. The autopilot recoupling system as recited in claim 1 wherein the autopilot recoupling signal processor is further configured to delay recoupling the autopilot systems layer of the automatic flight control system until the attitude retention systems layer of the automatic flight control system is engaged.

4. A method of autopilot recoupling for a rotorcraft having an automatic flight control system with multiple layers of flight augmentation, a manual flight mode and a coupled flight mode, the rotorcraft including a collective pitch control lever having a go-around input that initiates a go-around maneuver to discontinue a landing approach when actuated in the coupled flight mode, the method comprising:

generating an autopilot recoupling signal responsive to a single actuation of the go-around input in the manual flight mode;

receiving the autopilot recoupling signal at an autopilot recoupling signal processor and responsive thereto;

determining a state of the automatic flight control system; and

sequencing the layers of the automatic flight control system by:

first, activating a trim systems layer of the automatic flight control system if the trim systems layer is not active, the trim systems layer for cyclic pitch control;

second, engaging an attitude retention systems layer of the automatic flight control system if the attitude retention systems layer is disengaged; and

third, recoupling an autopilot systems layer of the automatic flight control system, thereby automatically increasing the level of augmentation from the manual flight mode to the coupled flight mode.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 further comprising delaying engagement of the attitude retention systems layer of the automatic flight control system until the trim systems layer of the automatic flight control system is active.

6. The method as recited in claim 4 further comprising delaying recoupling the autopilot systems layer of the automatic flight control system until the attitude retention systems layer of the automatic flight control system is engaged.

7. A rotorcraft having a manual flight mode and a coupled flight mode, the rotorcraft comprising:

an automatic flight control system with multiple layers of flight augmentation;

a collective pitch control lever having a go-around input that initiates a go-around maneuver to discontinue a landing approach when actuated in the coupled flight mode and that generates an autopilot recoupling signal responsive to a single actuation in the manual flight mode;

an autopilot recoupling signal processor communicably coupled to the go-around input, the autopilot recoupling signal processor configured to:

receive the autopilot recoupling signal from the go-around input and responsive thereto;

determine a state of the automatic flight control system; and

sequence the layers of the automatic flight control system by:

first, activating a trim systems layer of the automatic flight control system if the trim systems layer is not active, the trim systems layer for cyclic pitch control;

second, engaging an attitude retention systems layer of the automatic flight control system if the attitude retention systems layer is disengaged; and

third, recoupling an autopilot systems layer of the automatic flight control system, thereby automatically increasing the level of augmentation from the manual flight mode to the coupled flight mode.

8. The rotorcraft as recited in claim 7 wherein the autopilot recoupling signal processor is further configured to delay engagement of the attitude retention systems layer of the automatic flight control system until the trim systems layer of the automatic flight control system is active.

9. The rotorcraft as recited in claim 7 wherein the autopilot recoupling signal processor is further configured to delay recoupling the autopilot systems layer of the automatic flight control system until the attitude retention systems layer of the automatic flight control system is engaged.