Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Accelerated Stalls Lesson Plan
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) • ACS Area VII, Task D
The Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Accelerated Stalls Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with accelerated stalls (power-on or power-off).
Introduction
-
Schedule
Topic:Time:Part 1, Lesson Introduction:0:05Part 2, Accelerated Stalls:0:15Part 3, Accelerated Stalls Guided Scenario(s):0:20Part 4, Lesson Conclusion:0:05Total Ground Time:0:00
-
Attention Getter:
- Research and present a mishap case study:
- Discuss how the initial conditions developed into an incident/accident/mishap
- Relate similar personal experiences of the same type of incident/accident/mishap
- Consider incorporating a case study as a guided scenario
-
Motivator:
- Helps recognize the indications of an imminent or full stall during power-on situations with the landing gear down and to make prompt, positive, and effective recoveries with a minimum loss of altitude
- Accelerated Stalls simulate a stall from normal takeoff and departure
Materials
-
Required Materials:
- Writing instrument (pen, marker, etc.).
- Writing surface (paper, whiteboard, etc.).
- Internet connection (computer, tablet, smartphone, etc.).
- Phone (for preflight briefing).
- Personal Weather Minimums Worksheet.
- Airman Certification Standards.
- Student jacket.
-
Optional Materials:
- Pilot Operating Handbook, Electronic Flight Bag.
- Instructor endorsement log.
-
Reference Materials:
- Airplane Stall and Recovery Procedures Supplement.
- Instructor Endorsement Log.
- Personal Weather Minimums Worksheet.
- AOPA's Online Learning Course - Weather or Not Thunderstorm Challenge.
- Fitness for Flight Supplement.
- Risk Management Handbook.
- Airplane Flying Handbook.
- Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge.
- Stall Performance Supplement.
- Visual Scanning and Collision Avoidance Supplement.
- Flight Deck Management Supplement.
- Clearing Turns Supplement.
Instructor Actions
- Before the lesson, review reference materials.
- Part 1, Lesson Introduction:
- Review the lesson plan, including the attention and motivator.
- Review the airman certification standards.
- Part 2, Accelerated Stalls:
- Review the cause of stalls and what factors increase/decrease stall speed (AOA)
- Discuss Accelerated Stalls.
- Discuss Accelerated Stalls procedure.
- Discuss Accelerated Stalls common errors Discuss Accelerated Stalls airman certification standards.
- Discuss case studies.
- Conclusion.
- .
- Tie lesson back to previous lessons to reinforce past experiences (law of readiness).
- Present the remotivation, conclude, and provide guidance for follow-on lessons.
- Review student actions required ahead of the next lesson.
Guided Scenario(s)
- Ground:
- Discuss hazards while operating at or below the traffic pattern altitude, relating hazards to the training airfield, as appropriate
- Discuss reasons for shallowing descent on final approach (birds, another airplane, descending below glide slope, rising terrain, etc.)
- Discuss compounding hazards with a base-to-final turn
- In air, set a simulated field elevation at approximately 2500+ feet AGL
- Complete the power-off stall procedure, but allow time to stabilize on a simulated approach
- Provide the student with a reason to pull back on the elevator, note the altitude at which the student initates the stall
- Upon recovery, note the altitude, and ensure safe recovery
- While the student establishes a stabilized climb, note the altitude lost in the maneuver, and discuss the results
- Discuss impacts of transponder being in the improper mode
- Discuss clearing the area for takeoff and potential recognition time of someone on final if low-visibility
- Related scenarios:
- None
Student Actions
- Complete the assigned readings (see content above).
- Complete a personal weather minimums worksheet.
- Complete or review AOPA's Online Learning Course - Weather or Not Thunderstorm Challenge.
- Ask pertinent questions.
- Perform self-assessment, including fitness for flight and personal minimums, as appropriate.
- Make a go/no-go decision, as appropriate.
Airman Certification Standards
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Accelerated Stalls Airman Certification Standards
- Objective: To determine whether the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with accelerated stalls (power-on or power-off)
- Note: See Appendix 2: Safety of Flight and Appendix 3: Aircraft, Equipment, and Operational Requirements & Limitations for information related to this Task
- References: AC 61-67; FAA-H-8083-2 (Risk Management Handbook), FAA-H-8083-3 (Airplane Flying Handbook), FAA-H-8083-25 (Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge); POH/AFM.
Knowledge 4 ACS Elements
-
CA.VII.C.K1: Aerodynamics associated with stalls in various airplane configurations, including the relationship between angle of attack, airspeed, load factor, power setting, airplane weight and center of gravity, airplane attitude, and yaw effects. -
CA.VII.C.K2: Stall characteristics as they relate to airplane design, and recognition impending stall and full stall indications using sight, sound, or feel. -
CA.VII.C.K3: Factors leading to an accelerated stall and preventive actions. -
CA.VII.C.K4: Fundamentals of stall recovery.
Risk Management 8 ACS Elements
-
CA.VII.C.R1: Factors and situations that could lead to an inadvertent accelerated stall, spin, and loss of control. -
CA.VII.C.R2: Range and limitations of stall warning indicators (e.g., airplane buffet, stall horn, etc.). -
CA.VII.C.R3: Stall warning(s) during normal operations. -
CA.VII.C.R4: Stall recovery procedure. -
CA.VII.C.R5: Secondary stalls, cross-control stalls, and spins. -
CA.VII.C.R6: Effect of environmental elements on airplane performance related to accelerated stalls (e.g., turbulence, microbursts, and high-density altitude). -
CA.VII.C.R7: -
CA.VII.C.R8:
Skills 9 ACS Elements
-
CA.VII.C.S1: -
CA.VII.C.S2: Select an entry altitude that allows the Task to be completed no lower than 3,000 feet above ground level (AGL). -
CA.VII.C.S3: Establish the configuration as specified by the evaluator. -
CA.VII.C.S4: Set power appropriate for the configuration, such that the airspeed does not exceed the maneuvering speed (VA) or any other applicable Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH)/Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) limitation. -
CA.VII.C.S5: Establish and maintain a coordinated turn in a 45° bank, increasing elevator back pressure smoothly and firmly until an impending stall is reached. -
CA.VII.C.S6: Acknowledge the cues at the first indication of a stall (e.g., aircraft buffet, stall horn, etc.). -
CA.VII.C.S7: Acknowledge cues of the impending stall and then recover promptly after a full stall occurs. -
CA.VII.C.S8: Configure the airplane as recommended by the manufacturer, and accelerate to best angle of climb speed (VX) or best rate of climb speed (VY). -
CA.VII.C.S9: Return to the altitude, heading, and airspeed specified by the evaluator.
Conclusion
-
Re-Motivation:
- Accelerated Stalls strengthens the coordination, energy awareness, and precise control needed to keep the airplane within safe aerodynamic limits.
- Recognizing changes in angle of attack, load factor, control effectiveness, wind drift, and developing errors allows pilots to correct before safety margins disappear.
- Structured practice builds visual awareness, aircraft feel, checklist discipline, and the judgment required to discontinue or recover when a maneuver becomes unstable.
- Mastery of Accelerated Stalls provides a foundation for the more precise and complex aircraft-control tasks encountered in later training.
-
Closure:
- Advise students that this lesson will be used as a starting point for the next lesson.
- Assign study materials for the next lesson.