Stall Avoidance:
- Avoid flying at minimum airspeeds
- Remain in the normal flight envelope
- Avoid abrupt maneuvers
Stall Characteristics:
- If the airplane is slipping toward the inside of the turn at the time of the stall, it tends to roll rapidly toward the outside of the turn as the nose pitches down, because the outside wing stalls before the inside wing
- If the airplane is skidding toward the outside of the turn, it will have a tendency to roll to the inside of the turn, because the inside wing stalls first
- If the coordination of the turn at the time of the stall is accurate, the airplane's nose will pitch away from the pilot just as it does in a straight flight stall
- Stalling will occur at a higher airspeed and thus, a lower than expected pitch resulting in a quick, unexpected stall
- If an uncoordinated turn is made, one wing may tend to drop suddenly, causing the airplane to roll in that direction; if that occurs, the excess back-elevator pressure must be released, power added, and the airplane returned to straight-and-level flight with coordinated control pressure
Understanding the Power Curve:
- Stall practice is necessary to feel for when the aircraft is behind the power curve (sometimes referred to as a region of reverse command) and how to successfully recover
- The aircraft is said to be behind the power curve whenever operating below the best endurance speed
- Best endurance is defined as the minimum power required to maintain level flight, which in Cessna 172s will come in at about 60 knots
- In normal flight, pitch controls altitude and power controls airspeed
- When operating in the region of reverse command, the controls reverse and pitch controls airspeed and power controls altitude
- Said differently, when behind the power curve, more power will be needed to overcome drag
- Pilots will operate in both throughout flight, with the most terminal phases of takeoff and landing occuring when behind the power curve
Load Factor:
- Load factor is the weight the wings are supporting
- Load factor is generally not calculated as part of preflight however, it has a close relation to stall speed, which is very important
- As load factor increase, stall speed increases
- In level flight, the load factor is the weight of the aircraft
- This is due to the aircraft feeling "1-g" or 1 times the force of gravity
- As you increase the angle of bank however, a pilot must pull back on the controls in order to avoid descending due to the loss of vertical lift, which then raises the load factor
-
Calculating Load Factor:
- Pilots will generally rely on the 60° angle of bank is 2-Gs rule of thumb, after all, performance charts are designed with the technical data considered
- Still, pilots can be more precise if they chose by using some relatively simple math
Load Factor Formula:
Load Factor = 1 / cos(angle of bank)Conditions:
- Given an angle of Bank of 60°
Calculation:
- Load Factor = 1 / cos(60)
- Load Factor = 1 / 0.5
- Load Factor = 2
Chart:
[Figure 1]- Look at the 60° mark at the bottom of the chart and move up until you intercept the load factor reference line
- Move over to the left and see the load factor imposed on the aircraft
- You should come up to approximately 2
Stall Speed & Angle of Bank:
- As mentioned above, stall speed increases with load factor due to a loss in the vertical component of lift
-
Calculating Stall Speed:
Load Factor Formula:
Stall Speed Banked = [Stall Speed Level x Square Root of Load Factor]Conditions:
- Given an aircraft with a stall speed of 48 knots with a load factor of 2 (60° angle of bank):
Calculation:
- Stall Speed Banked = [Stall Speed Level / Square Root of Load Factor]
- Square Root of 2 = 1.41
- Stall Speed Banked = 48 x 1.41
- Stall Speed Banked = 68 KIAS
Chart:
[Figure 1]- Look at the 60° mark at the bottom of the chart and move up until you intercept the stall speed increase reference line
- Move over to the left and see the percent increase in stall speed
- You should come up with an increase in stall speed of approximately 41%
- Stall Speed Banked = [Stall Speed Level x percent increase in stall speed]
- Stall Speed Banked = 48 x 1.41
- Stall Speed Banked = 68 KIAS
- You should come up with an increase in stall speed of approximately 41%
Approaches to Stalls:
- Select an altitude where recovery will occur no lower than 1500' AGL
- Commence a clearing turn
- While maintaining heading, reduce power, adjusting pitch (trim) to maintain altitude
- For Dirty Configuration:
- Advance the propeller control to full forward (high rpm) as required
- While maintaining altitude, slowly establish the pitch attitude, power setting, and if applicable, bank (15-30°) that would induce a stall
- At the first indication of an impending stall, calling, "stalling," and initiate recovery, maintaining heading while/ smoothly and continuously increasing power to full and adjusting pitch to maintain altitude (trim)
- For Dirty Configuration:
- Right rudder will be necessary to counteract the increase in p-factor
- As airspeed increases, raise the flaps in increments, to 10°:
- Too abrupt of flap retraction will result in a dramatic loss of lift and possibly stall
- As airspeed increases, but below VLO raise the landing gear
- At or above Vx retract flaps to 0°
- As cruise airspeed is attained, set cruise power
- Re-trim as necessary
- Complete the Cruise Flow/Checklist
Power-Off Stalls:
- Power-off stalls simulate a stall during the normal approach to landing
- Should be set up in the landing configuration
- Recoveries therefore train a pilot to make prompt, positive, and effective recoveries with a minimum loss of altitude
- This stall may occur while descending in an actual or simulated emergency or in any power-off situation when airspeed is not controlled
- The aircraft will be configured for an approach and landing and therefore stall at VSO, the "stalling speed or the minimum steady flight speed in a landing configuration"
-
Power-Off Stall & Recovery Procedure:
- Select an altitude where recovery will occur no lower than 1500' AGL
- Perform clearing turns
- Reduce power adjusting pitch to maintain altitude
- Trim as necessary
- Below VLO, extend the landing gear, as required
- Callout: "Gear Down"
- Verify gear DOWN and callout "3 Green, No Red
- Below VFE, extend the flaps
- Advance the propeller control to full forward (high rpm) as required
- Maintain altitude until reaching a normal approach speed and then maintain that speed in a stabilized descent
- Descending no lower than 200', simultaneously reduce power to idle and pitch up to Vy attitude (4-5 degrees, cowling on the horizon)
- This pitch attitude will be a normal landing attitude
- Above 5 knots, above stall speed the horn may sound
- Stall may be performed level or with up to 20° bank angles
- At the stall, call out "stalling"
- Reduce the AoA to regain control
- Add full power
- Right rudder will be necessary to counteract the increase in p-factor
- Pitch for Vy
- Glare shield level with the horizon
- Maintain coordination using rudder to prevent spins
- With a positive rate of climb established:
- Begin to raise the flaps in 10° increments
- Below VLO, and with a positive rate of climb established, call out "positive climb, gear up," and retract the landing gear
- Note, some aircraft Pilot Operating Handbooks may require flaps be partially retracted before a positive rate of climb is possible
- Complete cruise checklist, returning to the altitude, heading, and airspeed required
-
Power-Off Stall & Recovery Common Errors:
- Failure to adequately clear the area
- Failure to establish the specified landing gear and flap configuration prior to entry
- Improper pitch, heading, and bank control during straight ahead stalls
- Use outside and instrument references
- Right rudder in nose-high power-on condition; release at break
- Improper pitch and bank control during turning stalls
- Rough or uncoordinated control technique
- Failure to recognize the first indications of a stall
- Failure to achieve a stall
- Improper torque correction
- Poor stall recognition and delayed recovery
- Excessive altitude loss or excessive airspeed during recovery
- Secondary stall during recovery
-
Private Pilot (Airplane) Power-Off Stalls Airman Certification Standards:
- Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with power-off stalls
- 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
- Power-off stalls lesson plan
Power-Off Stall Knowledge:
The applicant demonstrates understanding of:-
PA.VII.B.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. -
PA.VII.B.K2:
Stall characteristics as they relate to airplane design, and recognition impending stall and full stall indications using sight, sound, or feel. -
PA.VII.B.K3:
Factors and situations that can lead to a power-off stall and actions that can be taken to prevent it. -
PA.VII.B.K4:
Fundamentals of stall recovery.
Private Pilot (Airplane) Power-Off Risk Management:
The applicant is able to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with:-
PA.VII.B.R1:
Factors and situations that could lead to an inadvertent power-off stall, spin, and loss of control. -
PA.VII.B.R2:
Range and limitations of stall warning indicators (e.g., airplane buffet, stall horn, etc.). -
PA.VII.B.R3:
Stall warning(s) during normal operations. -
PA.VII.B.R4:
Stall recovery procedure. -
PA.VII.B.R5:
Secondary stalls, accelerated stalls, and cross-control stalls. -
PA.VII.B.R6:
Effect of environmental elements on airplane performance related to power-off stalls (e.g., turbulence, microbursts, and high-density altitude). -
PA.VII.B.R7:
Collision hazards, to include aircraft, terrain, obstacles, and wires. -
PA.VII.B.R8:
Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
Private Pilot (Airplane) Power-Off Stalls Skills:
The applicant exhibits the skill to:-
PA.VII.B.S1:
Clear the area. -
PA.VII.B.S2:
Select an entry altitude that allows the Task to be completed no lower than 1,500 feet above ground level (AGL) (ASEL, ASES) or 3,000 feet AGL (AMEL, AMES). -
PA.VII.B.S3:
Configure the airplane in the approach or landing configuration, as specified by the evaluator, and maintain coordinated flight throughout the maneuver. -
PA.VII.B.S4:
Establish a stabilized descent. -
PA.VII.B.S5:
Transition smoothly from the approach or landing attitude to a pitch attitude that induces a stall. -
PA.VII.B.S6:
Maintain a specified heading ±10° if in straight flight; maintain a specified angle of bank not to exceed 20°, ±10° if in turning flight, while inducing the stall. -
PA.VII.B.S7:
Acknowledge cues of the impending stall and then recover promptly after a full stall occurs. -
PA.VII.B.S8:
Execute a stall recovery in accordance with procedures set forth in the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) or Airplane Flight Manual (AFM). -
PA.VII.B.S9:
Configure the airplane as recommended by the manufacturer, and accelerate to best angle of climb speed (Vx) or best rate of climb speed (Vy). -
PA.VII.B.S10:
Return to the altitude, heading, and airspeed specified by the evaluator. -
PA.VII.B.S10:
Use single-pilot resource management (SRM) or crew resource management (CRM), as appropriate.
Power-On Stalls:
- 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
- Power-on stalls simulate a stall from normal takeoff and departure
- The aircraft will be clean, configured for climb, and therefore stall at VS1, the "stalling speed or the minimum steady flight speed obtained in a specific configuration (same as Vs)"
-
Power-On Stall & Recovery Procedure:
- Select an altitude where recovery will occur no lower than 1500' AGL
- Perform clearing turns
- Reduce power adjusting pitch to maintain altitude
- Trim as necessary
- Below VLO, extend the landing gear, as required
- Callout: "Gear Down"
- Verify gear DOWN and callout "3 Green, No Red
- At Vr set full power and slowly increase pitch up to approx. 18° in straight flight or in turns with up to 20° bank
- Bring the rudder pedals to the horizon
- At the stall, call out, "stalling," and reduce the angle of attack to regain control effectiveness
- Add full power to regain airspeed
- Right rudder will be necessary to counteract the increase in p-factor
- Pitch up to a Vx attitude
- Bring the horizon through the top 4th of the panel
- Maintain coordinated use of the ailerons and rudder to level the wings and prevent entering into a spin
- Adjust pitch to Vy attitude and minimize altitude loss
- Trim as necessary
- With a positive rate of climb established:
- Below VLO, and with a positive rate of climb established, call out "positive climb, gear up," and retract the landing gear
- Complete cruise checklist
-
Power-On Stall & Recovery Common Errors:
- Failure to adequately clear the area
- Failure to establish the specified landing gear and flap configuration prior to entry
- Improper pitch, heading, and bank control during straight ahead stalls
- Use outside and instrument references
- Right rudder in nose-high power-on condition; release at break
- Improper pitch and bank control during turning stalls
- Rough or uncoordinated control technique
- Failure to recognize the first indications of a stall
- Failure to achieve a stall
- Improper torque correction
- Poor stall recognition and delayed recovery
- Excessive altitude loss or excessive airspeed during recovery
- Secondary stall during recovery
-
Private Pilot (Airplane) Power-On Stalls Airman Certification Standrds:
- Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with power-on stalls
- Note: See Appendix 2: Safety of Flight and Appendix 3: Aircraft, Equipment, and Operational Requirements & Limitations for information related to this Task
- Reference: 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
- Power-on stalls lesson plan
Private Pilot (Airplane) Power-On Stall Knowledge:
The applicant demonstrates understanding of:-
PA.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. -
PA.VII.C.K2:
Stall characteristics as they relate to airplane design, and recognition impending stall and full stall indications using sight, sound, or feel. -
PA.VII.C.K3:
Factors and situations that can lead to a power-on stall and actions that can be taken to prevent it. -
PA.VII.C.K4:
Fundamentals of stall recovery.
Private Pilot (Airplane) Power-On Risk Management:
The applicant is able to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with:-
PA.VII.C.R1:
Factors and situations that could lead to an inadvertent power-on stall, spin, and loss of control. -
PA.VII.C.R2:
Range and limitations of stall warning indicators (e.g., airplane buffet, stall horn, etc.). -
PA.VII.C.R3:
Stall warning(s) during normal operations. -
PA.VII.C.R4:
Stall recovery procedure. -
PA.VII.C.R5:
Secondary stalls, accelerated stalls, elevator trim stalls, and cross-control stalls. -
PA.VII.C.R6:
Effect of environmental elements on airplane performance related to power-on stalls (e.g., turbulence, microbursts, and high-density altitude). -
PA.VII.C.R7:
Collision hazards. -
PA.VII.C.R8:
Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
Private Pilot (Airplane) Power-On Stalls Skills:
The applicant exhibits the skill to:-
PA.VII.C.S1:
Clear the area. -
PA.VII.C.S2:
Select an entry altitude that allows the Task to be completed no lower than 1,500 feet above ground level (AGL) (ASEL, ASES) or 3,000 feet AGL (AMEL, AMES). -
PA.VII.C.S3:
Establish the takeoff, departure, or cruise configuration, as specified by the evaluator, and maintain coordinated flight throughout the maneuver. -
PA.VII.C.S4:
Set power (as assigned by the evaluator) to no less than 65 percent power. -
PA.VII.C.S5:
Transition smoothly from the takeoff or departure attitude to the pitch attitude that induces a stall. -
PA.VII.C.S6:
Maintain a specified heading ±10° if in straight flight; maintain a specified angle of bank not to exceed 20°, ±10° if in turning flight, while inducing the stall. -
PA.VII.C.S7:
Acknowledge cues of the impending stall and then recover promptly after a full stall occurs. -
PA.VII.C.S8:
Execute a stall recovery in accordance with procedures set forth in the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH)/Flight Manual (FM). -
PA.VII.C.S9:
Configure the airplane as recommended by the manufacturer, and accelerate to best angle of climb speed (VX) or best rate of climb speed (VY). -
PA.VII.C.S10:
Return to the altitude, heading, and airspeed specified by the evaluator. -
PA.VII.C.S11:
Use single-pilot resource management (SRM) or crew resource management (CRM), as appropriate.
-
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Power-on Stalls Airman Certification Standards:
- Objective: To determine the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with power-on stalls
- 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
- Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Power-On Stalls Lesson Plan
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Power-on Stalls Knowledge:
The applicant demonstrates understanding of:-
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 and situations that can lead to a power-on stall and actions that can be taken to prevent it. -
CA.VII.C.K4:
Fundamentals of stall recovery.
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Power-on Stalls Risk Management:
The applicant is able to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with:-
CA.VII.C.R1:
Factors and situations that could lead to an inadvertent power-on 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, accelerated stalls, elevator trim stalls, and cross-control stalls. -
CA.VII.C.R6:
Effect of environmental elements on airplane performance related to power-on stalls (e.g., turbulence, microbursts, and high-density altitude). -
CA.VII.C.R7:
Collision hazards. -
CA.VII.C.R8:
Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.
Commercial Pilot (Airplane) Power-on Stalls Skills:
The applicant exhibits the skill to:-
CA.VII.C.S1:
Clear the area. -
CA.VII.C.S2:
Select an entry altitude that allows the Task to be completed no lower than 1,500 feet above ground level (AGL) (ASEL, ASES) or 3,000 feet AGL (AMEL, AMES). -
CA.VII.C.S3:
Establish the takeoff, departure, or cruise configuration, as specified by the evaluator, and maintain coordinated flight throughout the maneuver. -
CA.VII.C.S4:
Set power (as assigned by the evaluator) to no less than 65 percent power. -
CA.VII.C.S5:
Transition smoothly from the takeoff or departure attitude to the pitch attitude that induces a stall. -
CA.VII.C.S6:
Maintain a specified heading ±10° if in straight flight; maintain a specified angle of bank not to exceed 20°, ±10° if in turning flight, while inducing the stall. -
CA.VII.C.S7:
Acknowledge cues of the impending stall and then recover promptly after a full stall occurs. -
CA.VII.C.S8:
Recover at the first indication of a stall or after a full stall has occurred, as specified by the evaluator. -
CA.VII.C.S9:
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.S10:
Return to the altitude, heading, and airspeed specified by the evaluator.
Cross-Controlled Stalls:
- Cross-control stalls emphasize the importance of using coordinated control pressures whenever making turns
- Most apt to occur during a poorly planned and executed base-to-final approach turn (slip-stall)
- In this case the aircraft rolls in the direction of the rudder (likely to outside of the turn)
- Practicing approaches to stalls demonstrates the transition from cruise flight to critically slow airspeeds in various conditions
-
Cross-Controlled Stall & Recovery Procedure:
WARNING:
All procedures are GENERALIZED.
Always fly per Pilot Operating Handbook procedures,
observing any relevant Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
- Select an altitude where recovery will occur no lower than 1500' AGL
- Commence a clearing turn
- Reduce power adjusting pitch to maintain altitude
- Trim as necessary
- Below VLO, extend the landing gear, as required
- Callout: "Gear Down"
- Verify gear DOWN and callout "3 Green, No Red
- Advance the propeller control to full forward (high rpm) as required
- Maintain altitude until reaching a typical approach speed, and then establish a stabilize descent (trimmed) to simulate a normal approach to landing
- Descending no lower than 200' from the entry altitude, simultaneously reduce power to idle and pick a reference point off the left or right wing tip
- Turn towards the reference point using a 25-30° bank while:
- Simultaneously applying excessive rudder pressure in the direction of turn (thereby accelerating the speed of outer wing)
- Using opposite aileron to prevent over-banking (maintain a constant 25-30° bank) during the turn, and
- Increasing elevator back-pressure to keep the nose from lowering
- At the imminent stall, callout, "stalling," reduce the angle of attack to regain control effectiveness, and apply full power
- Right rudder will be necessary to counteract the increase in p-factor
- Maintain coordinated use of the ailerons and rudder to level the wings and prevent entering into a spin
- Adjust pitch to the Vy attitude and minimize altitude loss
- Re-trim as necessary
- Below VLO, and with a positive rate of climb established, call out "positive climb, gear up," and retract the landing gear
- Complete cruise checklist, returning to the altitude, heading, and airspeed required
- Note that completion of the maneuver should occur by the 90° reference point and before full deflection of the rudder and aileron
-
Cross-Controlled Stall Common Errors:
- Failure to adequately clear the area
- Failure to establish the specified landing gear and flap configuration prior to entry (usually flaps up to avoid exceeding VFE
- Improper pitch, heading, and bank control during straight ahead stalls
- Use outside and instrument references
- Right rudder in nose-high power-on condition; release at break
- Improper pitch and bank control during turning stalls
- Rough or uncoordinated control technique
- Failure to recognize the first indications of a stall
- Failure to achieve a stall
- Improper torque correction
- Poor stall recognition and delayed recovery
- Excessive altitude loss or excessive airspeed during recovery
- Secondary stall during recovery
-
Cross Controlled Stall Airman Certification Standards:
Accelerated Stalls:
- A stall above 1-g flight is termed an accelerated stall
- For this reason, you may hear of an accelerated stall referred to as a "G-Stall"
- Accelerated stalls demonstrate stalls are a function of angle of attack and not airspeed
- Realize prior to the stall, the aircraft was flying, so recovery is not complicated - unload the wings
-
Accelerated Stall & Recovery Procedure:
- Select an altitude where recovery will occur no lower than 1500' AGL
- Commence a clearing turn
- Reduce power to allow the airplane to decelerate to cruise airspeed
- Ensure the flaps are up
- Once established at a cruise airspeed, establish a 45-50° bank to the left or right
- Reduce power to idle, adjusting the pitch to maintain altitude
- Allow the airspeed to decrease approximately 20 KIAS and then firmly increase elevator back-pressure
- At the imminent stall (buffet):
- Note the indicated airspeed,
- Callout, "stalling,"
- Reduce the angle of attack to regain control effectiveness, and
- Add power as necessary
- Maintain coordinated use of the ailerons and rudder to:
- Level the wings,
- Prevent entering into a spin, and
- Minimize altitude loss by establishing Vy
- Re-trim as necessary
- Return to the altitude, heading, and airspeed specified
-
Accelerated Stall and Recovery Common Errors:
- Failure to adequately clear the area
- Failure to establish the specified landing gear and flap configuration prior to entry
- Improper pitch, heading, and bank control during straight ahead stalls
- Use outside and instrument references
- Right rudder in nose-high power-on condition; release at break
- Improper pitch and bank control during turning stalls
- Rough or uncoordinated control technique
- Failure to recognize the first indications of a stall
- Failure to achieve a stall
- Improper torque correction
- Poor stall recognition and delayed recovery
- Excessive altitude loss or excessive airspeed during recovery
- Secondary stall during recovery
-
Accelerated Stall Airman Certification Standards:
Elevator Trim Stalls:
- Elevator trim stalls show what can happen when full power is applied for a go-around and positive control of the airplane is not maintained
- Shows the importance of smooth power applications, overcoming strong trim forces, and maintaining positive control
-
Elevator Trim Stall & Recovery Procedure:
- Select an altitude where recovery will occur no lower than 1500' AGL
- Commence a clearing turn
- Reduce power, adjusting pitch (trimming) to maintain altitude
- Below VLO, extend the landing gear and verify 3 down and locked
- Below VFE, extend the flaps for takeoff or landing configurations
- Adjust pitch (trim) to maintain altitude
- Advance the propeller control to full forward (high rpm) as required
- Maintain altitude until reaching approach speed, and then establish a stabilized descent (trimmed) to simulate a normal approach to landing (3° down)
- Descending no lower than 200' from the entry altitude, apply full throttle, allowing the airplane to roll left and the pitch to increase to the Vx pitch attitude
- Right rudder will be necessary to counteract the increase in p-factor
- Reduce the angle of attack to regain control effectiveness
- Maintain coordinated use of the ailerons and rudder to level the wings
- Adjust pitch to the Vy attitude, raise the flaps in increments, to 10 °:
- Too abrupt of flap retraction will result in a dramatic loss of lift and possibly stall
- As airspeed increases, but below VLO raise the landing gear
- At or above Vy retract flaps to 0°
- As cruise airspeed is attained, set cruise power
- Re-trim as necessary
- Complete the Cruise Flow/Checklist
-
Elevator Trim Stall Common Errors:
- Failure to adequately clear the area
- Failure to establish the specified landing gear and flap configuration prior to entry
- Improper pitch, heading, and bank control during straight ahead stalls
- Use outside and instrument references
- Right rudder in nose-high power-on condition; release at break
- Improper pitch and bank control during turning stalls
- Rough or uncoordinated control technique
- Failure to recognize the first indications of a stall
- Failure to achieve a stall
- Improper torque correction
- Poor stall recognition and delayed recovery
- Excessive altitude loss or excessive airspeed during recovery
- Secondary stall during recovery
-
Elevator Trim Stall Airman Certification Standards:
Secondary Stalls:
- Secondary stall are stalls that may occur after a recovery from a preceding stall
- Secondary stalls are caused by attempting to hasten the completion of a stall recovery before the airplane has regained sufficient flying speed
- It also occurs when the pilot fails to reduce the angle of attack sufficiently during stall recovery by not lowering pitch attitude sufficiently, or by attempting to break the stall by using power only
- When this stall occurs, the back-elevator pressure should again be released just as in a normal stall recovery
- When sufficient airspeed has been regained, the airplane can then be returned to straight-and-level flight
- Performing the secondary stall procedure demonstrate the effects of improper control usage inducing another stall after initiating a recovery from the initial stall
-
Secondary Stalls & Recovery Procedure:
- Select an altitude where recovery will occur no lower than 1500' AGL
- Perform clearing turns
- Perform a power-off stall or power-on stall as directed
- At the stall, call out, "stalling," and reduce the angle of attack to regain control effectiveness
- Add full power to regain airspeed
- Maintain coordinated use of the ailerons and rudder to level the wings and prevent entering into a spin
- Immediately increase the pitch attitude to induce another (secondary) stall
- At the stall, callout, "stalling," reduce the angle of attack to regain control effectiveness
- Add full power to regain airspeed
- Right rudder will be necessary to counteract the increase in p-factor
- Maintain coordinated use of the ailerons and rudder to level the wings and prevent entering into a spin
- Adjust pitch to the Vx attitude, re-trimming as necessary and minimizing altitude loss
- With a positive rate of climb established:
- Complete cruise checklist, returning to the altitude, heading, and airspeed required
-
Secondary Stalls Airman Certification Standards:
Tail Stalls:
- Tail stalls are when the tail of an aircraft stalls, usually due to an atmospheric phenomena such as icing
- Tail stalls are most common on the approach and landing phase of flight, less so enroute
- Tail stalls are not easy to differentiate from a wing stall and their recovery procedures are opposite that of a wing stall
- To learn more, check out Bold Method's Most Pilots Don't Know How To Recover From This Type Of Stall article
Airplane Stall and Recovery Procedures Case Studies:
- National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Identification: CHI08FA039:
- The NTSB determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: The pilot not maintaining adequate airspeed for the gusty crosswind conditions and the stall/spin encountered during the go-around. Contributing to the accident were the crosswinds and wind gusts
- National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Identification: WPR22FA033:
- The NTSB determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: The pilot's improper landing approach, which failed to account for wind conditions, and his exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack following an overshoot of the runway extended centerline, resulting in an accelerated aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of experience flying into challenging backcountry airstrips
Conclusion:
- Remain mindful that performance calculations are usually more optimistic than performance in reality
- Stalls do NOT occur without warning
- While flying along in cruise flight, a stall will not rip the airplane out of the sky and throw it uncontrollably to the ground to a big smoking crater
- Approximately 3.8% of stalls happen on downwind, 6.1% of stalls happen on final, and approximately half of all stalls occur on final
- While training for stalls is performed in a controlled environment, it is important to remember the scenarios where the various types of stalls could occur to develop practical application understanding
- At high load factors, the sudden loss of lift from one wing (whichever stalls first) creates a much large rolling moment than with a 1-g stall
- The result is a violent departure that resembles a snap roll
- Base-to-final stalls are most likely to occur when the pilot tries to pull an aircraft tighter, and a cross-controlled event occurs, causing a stall, likely rolling the aircraft into the direction of turn
- It is important to note that individual aircraft may have stall characteristics unique to them due to bends/twists which develop in the airframe over time depending on their use
- To get more in depth about what is occurring during a stall, be sure to read the stall performance page
- Stalls are most likely to occur unexpectedly
- When teaching/practicing stalls, don't practice basic mechanics in unrealistic scenarios
- Since a stall is most likely to be fatal when in the traffic pattern, consider flying a simulated pattern at altitude and assess reaction/altitude impacts
- Stalling airspeed differentials VSO and VS1 is a factor of configuration
- While power-off and power-on stalls are practiced in defined configurations relative to certain phases of flight, reality is that these configurations will not match every profile flown, and stall speed (VSO and VS1) is not a factor of power-off/power-on, but of configuration
- Larger aircraft may actually have VS2 or VS3, etc. based on different configurations
- Although power-off stalls can happen in various regimes of flight, recovery procedures are particularly important while on an approach to landing
- Although power-on stalls can happen in various regimes of flight, recovery procedures are particularly important while on an takeoff and climb
- When teaching stalls, avoid mechanical steps, but instead introduce a stall when unexpected, as that is the most likely scenario to encounter
- Note that flaps are not extended due to the possibility of exceeding VFE
- Realize the potential effect an autopilot has on masking a slowly increasing angle of attack closing the margin to a stall
- Consider hand flying during critical phases of flight
- In high-performance aircraft, power-on stalls can be avoided (altitude dependend) by quickly rolling 90 degrees and letting the nose drop through the horizon
- When there is a need to roll wings-level as part of a recovery, recognize roll rate differs by aircraft, and that impacts how fast that plane can recover
- Flight profiles for stall practice is useful, but staged, and should never overshadow that control surfaces can stall at any airspeed, as it is the critical angle of attack that defines a stall
- Expect additional pressure against flight controls when traveling at higher airspeeds, less pressure at lower airspeeds
- Consider actual versus realized performance when doing any performance calculations
- Consider practicing maneuvers on a flight simulator to introduce yourself to maneuvers or knock off rust
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References:
- Federal Aviation Administration - Pilot/Controller Glossary
- Airplane Flying Handbook (Chapter 4) Stalls
- Federal Aviation Administration - FAASTeam: Stall, Spin, and Upset Recovery Training
- CFI Notebook.net - Stall Procedures Lesson Plan
- CFI Notebook.net - Stall Performance
- FAA - Airman Certification Standards
- Pilot Magazine - Stalls Aren't a Maneuver, They're an Emergency
- Aviation Safety Magazine - Flaps or Gear First?