If the center of gravity was past the forward limit, what effect would be most likely?

When the center of gravity (CG) is past the forward limit, it significantly impacts the helicopter's stability and control. In this scenario, the primary effect is that the helicopter may not have sufficient rearward control, particularly when attempting to hover downwind.

When hovering downwind, the helicopter experiences additional aerodynamic forces acting against it. To maintain a stable position, the pilot needs to exert forward cyclic control to counteract these forces. However, with the CG beyond the forward limit, the helicopter becomes less responsive to forward control inputs. This can lead to an inability for the pilot to manage pitch effectively, making it difficult to maintain the necessary flight attitude for stable hovering downwind.

This is essential knowledge for pilots because understanding the relationship between CG and control authority helps ensure safe operation of the helicopter under various flight conditions.