DONE 4A Emergencies - Spin Recovery

Question 0

AIRPLANE ONLY
1. What is a spin?
(AC 61-67)

Answer 0

A spin in a small airplane or glider is a controlled (recoverable) or uncontrolled (possibly unrecoverable) maneuver in which the airplane or glider descends in a helical path while flying at an angle of attack (AOA) greater than the critical AOA. Spins result from aggravated stalls in either a slip or a skid. If a stall does not occur, a spin cannot occur. In a stall, one wing will often drop before the other and the nose will yaw in the direction of the low wing.

Question 1

AIRPLANE ONLY
2. Describe several flight situations where an unintentional spin may occur.
(AC 61-67)

Answer 1

A stall/spin situation can occur in any phase of flight but is most likely to occur in the following situations:

a. Engine failure on takeoff during climbout—pilot tries to stretch glide to landing area by increasing back pressure or makes an uncoordinated turn back to departure runway at a relatively low airspeed.
b. Crossed-controlled turn from base to final (slipping or skidding turn)—pilot overshoots final (possibly due to a crosswind) and makes an uncoordinated turn at a low airspeed.
c. Engine failure on approach to landing—pilot tries to stretch glide to runway by increasing back pressure.
d. Go-around with excessive nose-up trim—pilot applies power with full flaps and nose-up trim combined with uncoordinated use of rudder.
e. Go-around with improper flap retraction—pilot applies power and retracts flaps rapidly resulting in a rapid sink rate followed by an instinctive increase in back pressure.

Question 2

AIRPLANE ONLY
3. What is the recommended procedure for recovery from a spin?
(FAA-H-8083-3)

Answer 2

In the absence of the manufacturer’s recommended spin recovery procedures and techniques, the following spin recovery procedures are recommended.

a. Reduce the power (throttle) to idle.
b. Position the ailerons to neutral.
c. Apply full opposite rudder against the rotation.
d. Apply a positive and brisk, straightforward movement of the elevator control forward of the neutral position to break the stall.
e. After spin rotation stops, neutralize the rudder.
f. Begin applying back-elevator pressure to raise the nose to level flight.

Question 3

AIRPLANE ONLY
4. What does an aft center of gravity do to an aircraft’s spin characteristics?
(FAA-H-8083-25)

Answer 3

Recovery from a stall in any aircraft becomes progressively more difficult as its center of gravity moves aft. This is particularly important in spin recovery, as there is a point in rearward loading of any airplane at which a “flat” spin will develop. A “flat” spin is one in which centrifugal force acting through a center of gravity located well to the rear, will pull the tail of the airplane out away from the axis of the spin, making it impossible to get the nose down and recover.

Question 4

AIRPLANE ONLY
5. What load factor is present in a spin?
(AC 61-67)

Answer 4

The load factor during a spin will vary with the spin characteristics of each airplane but is usually found to be slightly above the 1G load of level flight. There are two reasons this is true:

a. The airspeed in a spin is very low (usually within 2 knots of the unaccelerated stalling speed); and
b. The airplane pivots, rather than turns, while it is in a spin.