Pitch & steep turns by instrument reference
No visual horizon: pitch is held on the attitude indicator, cross-checked on the altimeter (TP 1102).
Rate-one turn pitch (TP 1102):
| Phase | Action | If skipped |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | Small back pressure (elevator) as bank comes in, to hold altitude | Altitude lost: nose not raised for bank |
| Rollout | Release back pressure as wings level; pitch nose down slightly to maintain altitude; adjust power as required | Tends to climb: bank-holding back pressure now excessive |
Altimeter cross-check through both phases reveals either error (TP 1102):
| Situation | Altimeter reading |
|---|---|
| Coordinated level turn | Needle stationary at selected altitude |
| Nose too high | Reading increases |
| Nose too low | Reading decreases |
Steep turn (bank > 30 deg): entry controls as any turn, but pitch, power, cross-check demands escalate (TP 1102).
| Element | Action |
|---|---|
| Entry | Co-ordinated aileron and rudder; scan pitch and bank rapidly as bank steepens |
| Pitch | Miniature aircraft dot slightly above horizon bar on attitude indicator, not on it |
| Power | Added power needed to hold altitude and selected airspeed |
| Hold | At target bank: aileron holds bank, rudder controls yaw |
Over-bank error: past some bank angle, more back-elevator pressure no longer raises nose; it only tightens turn.
- Recognize: VSI and altimeter show descent, airspeed increasing, despite added back pressure.
- Fix:
- Reduce bank to an angle where elevator can raise nose again.
- Level off.
- Re-establish required bank.
- Power alone or more back pressure does not fix it. Reducing bank does.
Nose pitches too far down: do not just add back pressure (tightens turn). Use coordinated aileron and rudder to ease bank and correct pitch (TP 1102 Ex.9 Turns).
Trap: same pitch input for entry and rollout (entry adds, rollout releases back pressure); and answering a sinking steep turn, or nose pitching too far down, with more back pressure, which past the over-bank point only tightens the turn, so reduce bank first.
References
- TP 1102 Instrument Flying: Turns, Steep Turns
- TP 1102 Ex.9 Turns
- TP 1102 Instrument Flying: Turns