Backcountry Pilot • Loss of Control

Loss of Control

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Loss of Control

We have a number of ways to lose control of the airplane and we are taught recovery methods for both stall and stall/spin. We fall down a bit on the prevention of stall with a general admonition to maintain flying speed. We should also teach not pulling back on the stick or yoke without zoom reserve airspeed, enough airspeed to climb or maneuver at least temporarily. And we should teach release of back pressure in all turns to allow the dynamic neutral stability of the airplane to work to prevent stall. Without some knowledge of "the law of the roller coaster" from Stick and Rudder, we will have a hard time understanding this not up for ever and not down for ever concept, this dynamic concept. We also teach recovery from rather than prevention of directional course disruption or longitudinal loss of control. We teach coordinated turns to return to the desired target or heading without teaching dynamic proactive or even reactive rudder only movement to prevent directional LOC. When we direct our course directly to the target or heading with dynamic proactive rudder movement to bracket that target or heading, we not only maintain directional control but also stabilize the wing level at the same time. We utilize correct yaw and we do not induce adverse yaw.

What might be the effect on the number of LOC accidents should we teach not pulling back on the yoke without zoom reserve airspeed, releasing back pressure on the yoke in turns, and stabilizing our course to target or heading using dynamic proactive rudder only movement? When watching LOC takeoff and landing accidents, it seems that directional control (rudder control) would do more to help and certainly not hurt the outcome. Power is important if we reject the landing once directional control is established. Pitch becomes important at exactly the same time as on a normal takeoff, when we have taken advantage of all the level in low ground effect energy safely available. Pitch should follow the same rule as everywhere else in the low altitude environment. Do not pull back on the yoke without zoom reserve airspeed energy. There is no Take Off and Go Around button that when pressed will blast us, with full load and half normal thrust, back into space.
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