Spatial disorientation and vestibular illusions
Orientation systems (TC AIM AIR 3.7):
| System | Senses |
|---|---|
| Vestibular | inner-ear balance organs |
| Somatosensory | muscle, joint, skin sense |
| Vision | dominates the other two |
Disorientation (vertigo): not knowing which way is up.
Vestibular illusions (PHAK ch.17):
| Illusion | Trigger | Sensation | Pitfall or handling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leans (most common) | slow, unnoticed roll | false sense of bank | - |
| Coriolis | head movement during a turn | violent tumbling | keep head movement minimal during cross-check and when reaching for dropped objects |
| Graveyard spiral | steady turn | feels level | easing back tightens the spiral (TC AIM AIR 3.7) |
| Somatogravic | forward acceleration | feels nose-up | tempts push down |
| Inversion | abrupt change from climb to level | feels like tumbling backward | tempts abrupt nose-down push, intensifying it |
| Elevator (updraft) | updraft | feels like climb | tempts nose-down push |
| Elevator (downdraft) | downdraft | feels like descent | tempts nose-up pull |
Trap: easing back in a steady turn tightens the graveyard spiral.
References
- FAA Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25), ch.17
- TC AIM AIR 3.7