AFH Chapter 4-13 Fundamentals of Stall Recovery

Fundamentals of Stall Recovery

 

Depending on the complexity of the airplane, stall recovery could consist of as many as six steps. 

 

Even so, the pilot should remember the most important action to an impending stall or a full stall is to reduce the AOA. 

 

There have been numerous situations where pilots did not first reduce AOA, and instead prioritized power and maintaining altitude, which resulted in a loss of control. 

 

This section provides a generic stall recovery procedure for light general aviation aircraft adapted from a template developed by major airplane manufacturers and can be adjusted appropriately for the aircraft used.

 

However, a pilot should always follow the aircraft-specific manufacturer’s recommended procedures if published and current.

 

The recovery actions should be made in a procedural manner; they can be summarized in Figure 4-6. 

 

The following discussion explains each of the six steps:

 

1. Disconnect the wing leveler or autopilot (if equipped). 

 

Manual control is essential to recovery in all situations. 

 

Disconnecting this equipment should be done immediately and allow the pilot to move to the next crucial step quickly. 

 

Leaving the wing leveler or autopilot connected may result in inadvertent changes or adjustments to the flight controls or trim that may not be easily recognized or appropriate, especially during high workload situations.

 

2. a) Pitch nose-down control. Reducing the AOA is crucial for all stall recoveries. 

 

Push forward on the flight controls to reduce the AOA below the critical AOA until the impending stall indications are eliminated before proceeding to the next step.

 

b) Trim nose-down pitch. If the elevator does not provide the needed response, pitch trim may be necessary. 

 

However, excessive use of pitch trim may aggravate the condition, or may result in loss of control or high structural loads.

 

3. Roll wings level. This orients the lift vector properly for an effective recovery. 

 

It is important not to be tempted to control the bank angle prior to reducing AOA. 

 

Both roll stability and roll control will improve considerably after getting the wings flying again. 

 

It is also imperative for the pilot to proactively cancel yaw with proper use of the rudder to prevent a stall from progressing into a spin.