Stall recovery technique
Standard (non-spin) stall recovery, two steps in order (TP 1102):
- Reduce angle of attack (unstall the wing).
- At first indication of stall, lower nose positively and immediately. Moderate forward pressure toward neutral usually enough. Goal: smooth airflow back over wing, not dive.
- Keep straight with rudder. Aileron only if Aircraft Flight Manual permits.
- Regain normal flight attitude with coordinated controls.
- Apply power promptly and smoothly, not abruptly.
- At altitude: cruise power normally enough. At low altitude: full power to minimize height loss.
- Reduce power to normal once cruise attitude regained.
Goal: normal flight with least height loss. Average light aircraft: nose to cruise attitude, or slightly below, while using power (TP 1102).
Wing drops (stall aggravated by yaw), same order (TP 1102):
- Unstall first.
- Keep straight with rudder (control yaw).
- Level wings with coordinated aileron and rudder, only after wing is flying again.
Power-off & power-on stall recovery (TP 1102): same two steps. Power-on stall more abrupt, control loss more complete, so full application of any remaining power matters more. Entry and practice setup: see stall-entry-practice.
Recovery load factor (TP 1102 Spiral section l.3088):
- Normal 1 G stall, entered from straight-and-level or unaccelerated climb: no load factor beyond 1 G.
- Factor can reduce toward zero as stall occurs. Snapping elevator forward in recovery can produce negative G.
- Ease out of dive gradually once safely above stalling speed: low load factor.
- Abrupt pull-up can give excessive load factor or high-speed stall.
Control rules (AC 700-031):
| Topic | Rule | Risk | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| Control inputs | Avoid cyclical or oscillatory inputs | Risk exceeding aeroplane structural limits | s.7.2(1)(r) |
| Rudder | Never use to roll wings level | Inappropriate, hazardous substitute for aileron | s.7.2(1)(s) |
| Pitch trim | If control column alone gives insufficient nose-down authority: nose-down pitch trim may be added | Excessive trim can aggravate stall, cause loss of control or high structural loads | Table 1 |
Upset recovery (AC 700-031):
- If upset includes a stall, recover from stall first, before any other upset recovery action (s.5.3(3)).
- CLIMB is final recovery step: stall broken and wings level, establish flight path away from terrain, complete recovery (s.8.3(3)(c)(v)).
Trap: reaching for power, or picking up a dropped wing with aileron, before reducing angle of attack. Unstall first; everything else follows.
References
- TP 1102 (Flight Training Manual) Ex.12 Stalls, "Power-Off Stall Entry and Recovery" and "Power-On Stall Entry and Recovery"
- TP 1102 (Flight Training Manual), Spiral section
- AC 700-031 s.7.2(1)(r)-(s), s.8.3(3)(c)(v), Table 1
- AC 700-031 s.5.3(3)