Stall Recovery Techniques

Recognising a Stall

A stall is identified by continuous stall warning, possible heavy buffet, loss of pitch authority, uncommanded pitch or roll, and inability to arrest descent. Early recognition—at the stall warning or onset—allows for prompt recovery and minimal altitude loss.

Stall Recovery Steps

1. Reduce Angle of Attack: Move the control column forward to lower the nose and decrease the angle of attack below critical. This is the single most crucial stall recovery technique.
2. Apply Power: Simultaneously apply maximum available thrust to accelerate and reduce altitude loss. For aircraft with underslung engines, be aware that high thrust can cause a nose-up pitch; maintain focus on reducing angle of attack.
3. Level the Wings: Use rudder—not ailerons—to keep the aircraft balanced and prevent further wing drop. Aileron use near the stall can worsen the situation by increasing the angle of attack on the already stalled wing.
4. Retract Lift Devices as Needed: Adjust flaps and other lift-augmentation devices according to the aircraft’s recommended stall recovery procedure. In some cases, setting flaps to a specific position helps restore the best pitching moment.
5. Return to Safe Flight: As airspeed increases and control effectiveness returns, smoothly pitch up to a safe climb attitude and retract any remaining flaps as per the flight manual.

Special Considerations

• Power-Off vs. Power-On Stalls: Power-off stalls (idle thrust) typically result in less nose-up pitching moment, while power-on stalls (high thrust) can complicate recovery due to nose-up tendencies, especially in jets with underslung engines.
• Wing Drop: If a wing drops, use coordinated rudder to balance the aircraft. Avoid aileron input until the stall is fully recovered.
• Stick Pusher Actuation: On some aircraft, a stick pusher system automatically moves the control column forward to prevent or recover from a stall, especially in types prone to deep stall.
• Deep Stall: Aircraft with swept wings and T-tails are at risk of deep stall, where recovery may be impossible due to elevator blanking. Prevention and correct flap settings are critical.

Load Factor and Recovery

During recovery, avoid abrupt pull-ups which increase load factor and risk secondary stalls. Smooth, coordinated control is key.