Maneuvering Stalls

One of the first things primary students learn in their training is the relationship of airspeed to stalls. Unfortunately, the Primacy Law can take over, leaving some pilots with the unshakable belief stalls only can happen at stalling speed, either clean (VS/VS1) or in the landing configuration (VS0). Thats basically true in 1g flight but not if any additional loading is placed on the wings, as often is the case when were maneuvering. In that situation, stall speed increases, sometimes dramatically.

Key Takeaways:

• Stalls are caused by exceeding a wing's critical angle of attack, not solely by low airspeed, and can occur at much higher speeds when additional load is placed on the wings during maneuvering flight.
• "Accelerated" or "maneuvering" stalls, a significant cause of fatal Loss of Control (LOC) accidents, occur unexpectedly when pilots apply excessive g-loading through actions like steep turns or abrupt pull-ups, effectively increasing the aircraft's stall speed.
• To prevent maneuvering stalls, pilots must manage airspeed, staying above the increased stall speed for the given g-load but below the maneuvering speed (VA), and are advised to avoid aggressive maneuvers, particularly at low altitudes.

Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->

See a mistake? Contact us.