Rolling Gs?

Joseph E. (Jeb) Burnside

Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at 01:12 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

A significant knowledge gap exists among many DPEs and CFIs regarding the dangers of "rolling Gs" (simultaneous multi-axis G-loading), a critical safety issue addressed in past Aviation Safety articles such as "Yanking And Banking."
The FAA's recommended traffic pattern entry involving an initial right turn after crossing the field is compliant with FARs because this maneuver is performed outside the established pattern to position for a proper 45-degree entry to the left downwind.

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I’m writing to ask if Aviation Safety has ever done an article on the dangers of rolling Gs? During a recent DPE/CFI video conference, one CFI queried why do we still teach Lazy 8s and Chandelles and why are they still a requirement in the Commercial-Airplane Aircraft Certification Standards? I popped in and said because of the dangers of rolling Gs…and then there were crickets among the other DPEs and CFIs—no one knew what I was talking about. I felt like a dinosaur.

I mentioned the recent YouTube video of a Mexican accident where a pilot of a Piper Pawnee tore his wings off during a “gender reveal” flight that went tragically wrong. But still no one knew the term rolling Gs.