Prepare for Power-Off Stalls (Approach-to-Landing) | 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; plan to finish no lower than 1,500 ft AGL.
Configure for landing (as the instructor specifies) and establish a stabilized descent at approach speed.
Smoothly raise the nose to an attitude that induces the stall, keeping the ball centered.
Recover per the POH: reduce angle of attack first, level the wings, add full power, right rudder.
Retract flaps in stages and accelerate to VX or VY, then return to the assigned altitude and heading.

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

Private Pilot ACS (FAA-S-ACS-6C)Task PA.VII.B · Power-Off Stalls

Clear the area.
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).
Configure the airplane in the approach or landing configuration, as specified by the evaluator, and maintain coordinated flight throughout the maneuver.
Establish a stabilized descent.
Transition smoothly from the approach or landing attitude to a pitch attitude that induces a stall.
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.
Acknowledge cues of the impending stall and then recover promptly after a full stall occurs.
Execute a stall recovery in accordance with procedures set forth in the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) or Airplane Flight Manual (AFM).
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.
Use single-pilot resource management (SRM) or crew resource management (CRM), as appropriate.

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

Clear the area.
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).
Configure the airplane in the approach or landing configuration, as specified by the evaluator, and maintain coordinated flight throughout the maneuver.
Establish a stabilized descent.
Transition smoothly from the approach or landing attitude to a pitch attitude that induces a stall.
Maintain a specified heading, ±10° if in straight flight; maintain a specified angle of bank not to exceed 20°, ±5° if in turning flight, until an impending or full stall occurs, as specified by the evaluator.
Acknowledge the cues at the first indication of a stall (e.g., aircraft buffet, stall horn, etc.).
Recover at the first indication of a stall or after a full stall has occurred, as specified by the evaluator.
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.

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