Stalls and spins

Stall warning signs

Stalls rarely happen without warning. Learn to recognize:

• The stall warning horn or light (usually 5-10 knots before the stall).
• Mushy, less effective controls.
• Buffeting as airflow separates over the wing and tail.
• A high nose attitude, decreasing airspeed and a quieter airplane.

Stall recovery

The FAA's recommended recovery for most airplanes, in order:

1. Disconnect the autopilot if engaged (not usually a factor in trainers).
2. Reduce the angle of attack: pitch nose-down until the stall warning stops.
3. Level the wings with coordinated aileron and rudder.
4. Add power as needed.
5. Return to the desired flight path without causing a secondary stall.

Always follow your airplane's POH. The key is step 2: you can't fly out of a stall while holding the yoke back.

Spins

A spin is an aggravated stall where one wing is more stalled than the other, so the airplane rolls and yaws into a descending corkscrew. A spin needs two things: a stall and yaw. That's why uncoordinated flight near a stall (for example, skidding a turn to final with too much rudder) is so dangerous: it gives you both ingredients at low altitude.

The general spin recovery, often remembered as PARE, is:

1. Power: idle.
2. Ailerons: neutral.
3. Rudder: full opposite the direction of rotation.
4. Elevator: briskly forward to break the stall.

When the rotation stops, neutralize the rudder and smoothly recover from the dive. Always follow the POH; some airplanes are not approved for intentional spins at all.