Lesson 1.4 Spins

1. Recovery from spins as well as stalls may become difficult when the CG is too far rearward.
a. The rotation of a spin is always around the CG.
2. Over-the-top spin.
a. The aircraft can stall, then begin a spin. This begins as a cross-control stall.
1. It usually occurs in the traffic pattern when turning base to final.
a. The pilot compensates for overshooting the runway centerline with rudder alone.
b. The proper action would be to increase the rate of turn while maintaining a coordinated turn.
2. Improperly trained pilots are apt to hold the bank constant and try to increase the rate of turn by adding more rudder in an effort to get aligned with the runway centerline.
3. While in this skidding turn, the aileron on the inside of the turn increases drag on the wing, slowing it down and decreasing its lift, which requires more aileron application.
4. The airplane will then begin an uncommanded roll toward the inside wing. This roll may occur so quickly that it is possible the bank will be vertical or past vertical before it can be stopped.
5. The airplane may continue to roll to an inverted position, which is usually the beginning of an over-the-top spin.