Prepare for Accelerated Stalls | Lesson Prep

Your CFI's syllabus and your airplane's POH come first. This page is a general study aid to help you show up prepared.

What you'll do

Clear the area and finish no lower than 3,000 ft AGL.
Set power so airspeed stays at or below VA, establish a coordinated 45° bank turn.
Smoothly and firmly increase back pressure until the first indication of a stall.
Recover immediately: reduce angle of attack, level wings, add power as needed.

The standard you'll be held to

Quoted from the current FAA Airman Certification Standards for each level that tests this.

Commercial Pilot ACS (FAA-S-ACS-7B)Task CA.VII.D · Accelerated Stalls

Clear the area.
Select an entry altitude that allows the Task to be completed no lower than 3,000 feet above ground level (AGL).
Establish the configuration as specified by the evaluator.
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.
Establish and maintain a coordinated turn in a 45° bank, increasing elevator back pressure smoothly and firmly until an impending stall is reached.
Acknowledge the cues at the first indication of a stall (e.g., aircraft buffet, stall horn, etc.).
Execute a stall recovery in accordance with procedures set forth in the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH)/Flight Manual (FM).
Configure the airplane as recommended by the manufacturer, and accelerate to best angle of climb speed (VX) or best rate of climb speed (VY).
Return to the altitude, heading, and airspeed specified by the evaluator.

Open the full ACS (PDF) ↗

Read it in the FAA handbooks

The official chapters behind this page. Each link opens the exact chapter, free on faa.gov. See the full Study Library.

Airplane Flying HandbookChapter 5Maintaining Aircraft Control (slow flight, stalls, spins, upsets)Chapter PDF · free, official PHAKChapter 5Aerodynamics of FlightOpens the PHAK at this chapter · free, official

Prepare the night before

Know stall speed increases with the square root of load factor.
Be sure you know VA for today's weight.

Common mistakes

Exceeding VA during entry.
Uncoordinated controls (risk of a spin entry).
Letting it progress past the first indication.

Questions to ask your instructor

Where's VA at our weight today?
Can you show me the first-indication cue first?

Stalls and Spins2 min read

Check yourself

Recall: Why does an airplane stall at a higher speed in a steep turn?Answer: Load factor increases, so the wing needs a higher angle of attack for the same speed. Correct. Stall speed rises with load factor.