Sender: <marv@lancaironline.net> (Marvin Kaye)
To: lml
Date: Fri, 05 Jul 2002 17:17:41 -0400
Message-ID: <redirect-1602530@logan.com>
From: pdavis@bmc.com (Paul Davis)
Reply-to: pdavis@bmc.com
Subject: Stall recovery and spin avoidance
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Someone sent me an off-list e-mail to the effect that they had noticed
I mentioned leveling the wings with rudder during stall recovery.
They questioned this as they had been TRAINED to level the wings with
COORDINATED rudder AND aileron.  (Emphasis mine.)

I just couldn't let this pass without bringing it to the list just in
case more than one of us has been "trained" this way.  If you think
COORDINATED control (rudder and stick in the same direction) is a good
way to pick up a stalled wing then let the arguments begin.

The way I learned the folly of attempting COORDINATED aileron/rudder
recovery was by spending some time with an instructor in a Decathlon
experimenting with stalls and spins and spin entry.  He convinced 
me that not only was aileron useless for picking up a stalled wing, 
it actually increased the likelihood of a spin.

I recommend that you grab a good instructor and an airplane like the
Decathlon whose stall and spin behaviors are predictable and readily
recoverable.  Since there will be two of you in the airplane I think
you need parachutes to be legal.  Then get some altitude and try
picking up a dropped wing:
  with rudder only,
  with aileron only,
  with rudder and aileron "coordinated",
  with rudder and aileron cross-controlled.
Try intentionally entering some spins with and without ailerons.  Try
to find the amount of rudder that will just barely get you into a
spin, then try using just a little less than that amount of rudder
with ailerons ("into" and "out of" the spin).  See if you don't find 
that moving the stick so as to "pick up" the stalled wing increases 
the likelihood of a spin.

My point is that increasing down aileron deflection on an already
stalled wing is only going to make matters worse.  The aileron won't
have enough effect to lift the wing and will act as a speed break
increasing yaw into the spin.  If you have enough rudder authority
this may cause no harm, but it certainly might get you into trouble.


-------------------
Dictum sapienti sat est
A word to the wise is sufficient