12 myths about stalls & spins checked out from the members only library society of aviation and...

12 Myths about12 Myths aboutStalls & SpinsStalls & Spins

Checked out from the Members Only Checked out from the Members Only LibraryLibrary

Society of Aviation and Flight EducatorsSociety of Aviation and Flight Educators

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The following presentation has been donated to the SAFE Library for The following presentation has been donated to the SAFE Library for educational use by SAFE Members. Permission for any other use must be educational use by SAFE Members. Permission for any other use must be coordinated directly with the author: [email protected], 805-218-0161coordinated directly with the author: [email protected], 805-218-0161

Created by Rich Stowell, MCFI-A, SAFE #0002Created by Rich Stowell, MCFI-A, SAFE #0002Copyright © 2010 by Rich StowellCopyright © 2010 by Rich Stowell

(This presentation contains instructor notes for use in (This presentation contains instructor notes for use in presentation.)presentation.)

12 Myths about12 Myths aboutStalls & SpinsStalls & Spins

Rich Stowell, Master CFI-AerobaticRich Stowell, Master CFI-Aerobatic2006 Flight Instructor of the Year2006 Flight Instructor of the Year

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Myth #1Myth #1

Flying too slowly causes stallsFlying too slowly causes stalls

– Angle of attack is keyAngle of attack is key

– Airspeed by itself is Airspeed by itself is uselessuseless

– Reinforced by the wings-level, Reinforced by the wings-level,

one-one-gg stalls practiced for check stalls practiced for check

ridesridesQuickTime™ and a

decompressorare needed to see this picture.

Myth #2Myth #2

Stalls cause spinsStalls cause spins

– Two elements needed: Two elements needed: stall & stall &

yawyaw

– Neither stalling nor yawing Neither stalling nor yawing

alone will result in spinningalone will result in spinning

– Simultaneously stalling with Simultaneously stalling with

sufficient yawing drives the spinsufficient yawing drives the spin QuickTime™ and a


Myth #3Myth #3

All cross-controlled flight All cross-controlled flight increases your stall / spin increases your stall / spin potentialpotential

– Two basic flavors: Two basic flavors: skids & slipsskids & slips

– SkidsSkids = higher stall / spin potential = higher stall / spin potential

– SlipsSlips = lower stall / spin potential = lower stall / spin potentialQuickTime™ and a


Myth #4Myth #4

If you inadvertently stall or If you inadvertently stall or spin, just let go of the controlsspin, just let go of the controls

– Auto-recovery may sometimes Auto-recovery may sometimes

occur in the early stagesoccur in the early stages

– Later in the process or under Later in the process or under

different conditions, however, this different conditions, however, this

may not result in recovery at allmay not result in recovery at allQuickTime™ and a


Myth #4Myth #4

– Letting go during a surprise stall /Letting go during a surprise stall /

spin is spin is notnot a natural instinct a natural instinct

– Clutching the stick or yoke is a Clutching the stick or yoke is a

more common reactionmore common reaction



Myth #4Myth #4

– Majority of stall / spin accidents occur Majority of stall / spin accidents occur

at or below traffic pattern altitude at or below traffic pattern altitude

– More altitude may be lost comparedMore altitude may be lost compared

to prompt application of recovery to prompt application of recovery

controlscontrols



Myth #5Myth #5

During recovery from upright During recovery from upright spins, the elevator control spins, the elevator control should not be moved forward should not be moved forward until rotation ceasesuntil rotation ceases

– Stems from misinterpretation of Stems from misinterpretation of

landmark NACA Spin Recovery landmark NACA Spin Recovery

Procedure published in 1936Procedure published in 1936QuickTime™ and a


Myth #5Myth #5

– ““After the lapse of appreciable After the lapse of appreciable

time, say time, say after at [least] one-half after at [least] one-half

additional turnadditional turn … briskly move the … briskly move the

elevator…”elevator…”



Myth #5Myth #5

– 105°/sec, “lapse” = 1.7 seconds105°/sec, “lapse” = 1.7 seconds






Myth #5Myth #5

– Opposite rudder alone Opposite rudder alone maymay effect effect

recovery in some cases, but may recovery in some cases, but may

notnot

be sufficient by itself in other be sufficient by itself in other

casescases QuickTime™ and a


Myth #5Myth #5

– Don’tDon’t rely on opposite rudder alone rely on opposite rudder alone

– Expect full opposite rudder followedExpect full opposite rudder followed

by forward elevator to stop spinningby forward elevator to stop spinning



Myth #6Myth #6

During spins, the slip / skid During spins, the slip / skid indicator shows spin directionindicator shows spin direction

– The slip / skid ball is The slip / skid ball is unreliableunreliable

when spinningwhen spinning



Myth #6Myth #6



Myth #7Myth #7

The longer an airplane stays The longer an airplane stays in a spin, the more airspeed it in a spin, the more airspeed it gains and the faster it rotatesgains and the faster it rotates

– High Drag maneuverHigh Drag maneuver

– Airspeed stabilizes at a low & Airspeed stabilizes at a low &

constant valueconstant value

– Rate of rotation eventually Rate of rotation eventually

stabilizesstabilizes QuickTime™ and a


Myth #8Myth #8

The longer an airplane stays The longer an airplane stays in a spin, the greater the in a spin, the greater the chance of structural damagechance of structural damage – Upright spins are about one-Upright spins are about one-gg

– Significant Significant gg could be imposed could be imposed

during pullout during pullout

– Pilot must manage Pilot must manage gg to stay to stay

within design limitswithin design limitsQuickTime™ and a


Myth #9Myth #9

Since most accidental spins Since most accidental spins occur too low for recovery, spin occur too low for recovery, spin trainingtrainingis a useless exerciseis a useless exercise

– Typical stall / spin accident not a Typical stall / spin accident not a

sudden, random eventsudden, random event

– Largely a Largely a pilot-driven processpilot-driven processQuickTime™ and a


Myth #9Myth #9

– Stall / spins have warning signsStall / spins have warning signs

– Scenario-based training provides Scenario-based training provides

awareness & skill to preventawareness & skill to prevent

accidental spins accidental spins in the first placein the first place



Myth #10Myth #10

Pilots with more experience Pilots with more experience are better at avoiding fatal are better at avoiding fatal stall / spins than pilots with stall / spins than pilots with less experienceless experience

– Student pilots = 15% of pilot Student pilots = 15% of pilot

populationpopulation

– Involved in only 4% percent of Involved in only 4% percent of

fatal stall / spins (better than fatal stall / spins (better than

ATPs!)ATPs!)QuickTime™ and a


Myth #10Myth #10

– Private & commercial pilots = Private & commercial pilots =

61% of pilot population61% of pilot population

– Involved in 83% of fatal stall / Involved in 83% of fatal stall /

spinsspins



Myth #11Myth #11

As a whole, flight instructors As a whole, flight instructors are well qualified to teach are well qualified to teach stalls and spinsstalls and spins – CFIs tend not to be well trained in CFIs tend not to be well trained in

stall / spin dynamicsstall / spin dynamics

– CFIs tend not to have sufficient CFIs tend not to have sufficient

hands-on experience to conduct hands-on experience to conduct

safe, meaningful stall / spin safe, meaningful stall / spin

trainingtrainingQuickTime™ and a


Myth #12Myth #12

Spins can be hard on an Spins can be hard on an airplane’s gyro instrumentsairplane’s gyro instruments

– Senior gyroscope technicians at Senior gyroscope technicians at

TGH Aviation in Auburn, CA TGH Aviation in Auburn, CA

report no additional wear report no additional wear

factors on either attitude gyros factors on either attitude gyros

or directional gyros or directional gyros QuickTime™ and a


For More InformationFor More Information

Rich Stowell, Rich Stowell, [email protected]@RichStowell.com

www.RichStowell.comwww.RichStowell.com

Society of Aviation and Flight Society of Aviation and Flight EducatorsEducators

www.SafePilots.orgwww.SafePilots.org

12 myths about stalls & spins checked out from the members only library society of aviation and...

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