Straight & Turning Descents

1. 
   WARNING:
   All procedures are GENERALIZED.
   Use the Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) procedures for specific aircraft performance and limitations.
   and/or current Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
2. Perform clearing turns.
3. Reduce power and advance the propeller, if applicable:
   • The aircraft will descend on its own
4. Adjust Trim
5. Cross-check Instruments:
   • Cross-check the airspeed indicator, attitude indicator, and the position of the airplanes nose to the horizon to determine correct pitch attitude
   • Heading should be constant with wings level for a straight turn
   • Descending turns should have a constant angle of bank and rate of turn:
     • Shallow (less than 20 degrees)
     • Medium (20 degrees to 45 degrees)
     • Steep (45 degrees or more)
   • Adverse yaw and coordinated flight should be considered in turning
6. Level-off:
   • Begin leveling off about 100 to 150 feet before reaching the target altitude.
   • Cruise power should be added
   • Decrease the elevator if in a turn to prevent climbing
7. Complete cruise checklist

• For any maneuver of condition of flight, the pitch, bank, and power control requirements are most clearly indicated by certain key instruments
• Those instruments which provide the most pertinent and essential information will be referred to as primary instruments
• Supporting instruments back up and supplement the information shown on the primary instruments

• Failure to adequately clear the area, as appropriate
  • Clear the descent path and turn direction for traffic before lowering altitude.
• Inadequate back-elevator control during glide entry resulting in too steep a glide
  • Control the pitch transition as power is reduced so the nose does not drop into an excessively steep glide.
• Failure to slow the airplane to approximate glide speed prior to lowering pitch attitude
  • Allow airspeed to approach the selected glide speed during the transition before establishing the final glide attitude.
• Attempting to establish/maintain a normal glide solely by reference to flight instruments
  • Use the outside horizon to establish the visual glide attitude and use instruments to verify its performance.
• Inability to sense changes in airspeed through sound and feel
  • Relate changes in sound and control pressure to airspeed indications while maintaining the intended glide speed.
• Inability to stabilize the glide (chasing the airspeed)
  • Set a stable glide attitude, allow the response to develop, and make small corrections instead of repeatedly chasing the airspeed.
• Attempting to "stretch" the glide by applying back-elevator pressure
  • Maintain the appropriate glide speed and choose a reachable landing area rather than raising the nose to stretch the glide.
• Skidding or slipping during gliding turns due to inadequate appreciation of the difference in rudder action as opposed to turns with power
  • Adjust rudder for the reduced-power condition and keep gliding turns coordinated.
• Failure to lower pitch attitude during gliding turn entry resulting in a decrease in airspeed
  • Adjust pitch as bank is introduced so the selected glide airspeed does not decay.
• Excessive rudder pressure during recovery from gliding turns
  • Reduce turning rudder pressure as the wings return to level and verify coordinated flight.
• Inadequate pitch control during recovery from straight glides
  • Coordinate the pitch transition with power application and trim when recovering from the glide.
• "Ground shyness" resulting in cross-controlling during gliding turns near the ground
  • Maintain coordinated control near the ground and abandon an unsafe planned path rather than skidding to make it fit.
• Failure to maintain constant bank angle during gliding turns
  • Use the horizon and wing references to hold the intended bank with smooth corrections.

Instrument-Flight Descent Common Errors

• Chasing a lagging vertical-speed indication.
  • Establish the descent attitude and power, then cross-check altitude trend and airspeed before adjusting the descent.
• Descending below a clearance or safe altitude.
  • Confirm the intended level-off altitude and anticipate recovery using the actual descent rate.
• Allowing the nose to rise unexpectedly when adding power at level-off.
  • Coordinate elevator pressure with the power change and trim after level flight stabilizes.

• Airman Certification Standards.