How to Practice a Power-Off Stall

Most aircraft accidents occur during takeoff and landing. Being aware of the hazards associated with these phases of flight and knowing how to get yourself out of a bad situation can only make your flights safer. Power-off stalls simulate what happens when flying too slow during the landing phase of flight. Read on to learn how to practice a power-off stall.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Climb to a safe altitude before practicing power-off stalls. Usually 5000 feet AGL is a safe altitude but check with a certified flight instructor for practice areas around your airport.

2. Slow the airplane and put it in the normal landing configuration. Bring the power to idle and maintain your current altitude once you are stable. The airplane should slow and the stall warning will eventually sound if it is installed in your airplane.

3. Allow the airplane to stall. The nose should lower and a wing may drop. Once this occurs, the airplane is in a stall. To recover apply these simple steps: max, relax, roll and pull.

4. Push the throttle to the max position. It may take a few seconds for the engine to get to max power so it is essential that you perform this is step quickly.

5. Relax back pressure on the elevator. This lets the wing's angle of attack drop below the stalling angle and produces more lift.

6. Roll wings level. Use the rudder pedals instead of ailerons as the rudder is the most effective control surface at slow speeds. With the wings level, all of the lift produced is straight up, which helps the airplane fly away from the ground.

7. Pull back on the elevator to get the airplane in a climb. Pull gently to avoid putting the airplane into a secondary stall.

Tips & Warnings

• Pull back just enough, when recovering, to get the stall warning horn. The stall warning activates just prior to the stalling angle of attack where the maximum amount of lift is produced.
• Apply the same steps as you practice and climb away from the ground if an actual stall is encountered on landing. Don't try to save the landing.
• Avoid a non-coordinated stall, which could turn into a spin. While practicing stalls, keep the turn coordinator centered as much as possible.