The translational friction coefficient of the helical wormlike chain is evaluated by an application of the Oseen-Burgers procedure of hydrodynamics to the cylinder model. The Oseen hydrodynamic interaction tensor is preaveraged, and therefore there is no need of consideration of the effect of the coupling between translational and rotational motions. A useful empirical interpolation formula is also derived to be valid for any possible values of the model parameters. Some salient aspects of the behavior of the sedimentation coefficient are discussed on the basis of the numerical results. In particular, it is pointed out that even if the proportionality of the sedimentation coefficient to the square root of the molecular weight is experimentally observed over a wide range, the chain may not always be regarded as a random coil but may possibly be characterized as a helical wormlike chain. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.