Power-Off Stalls
Private Pilot ACS · Area VII · Task B · POH/AFM, FAA-H-8083-3
Everything you need to know about Power-Off Stalls for your private pilot checkride. Aligned to FAA-S-ACS-6C Task VII-B, covering power-off stalls.
Setup & Recovery §
Simulates approach-to-landing stall. Configure in landing configuration (flaps extended).
Entry: Reduce power to idle. Maintain altitude with back pressure as speed decays. Aircraft will stall as critical AoA is exceeded.
Recovery at first indication: Stall warning horn, buffet, or mushy controls:
1. Reduce AoA — brisk forward pressure to break the stall
2. Full power — simultaneously
3. Level wings with coordinated controls
4. Retract flaps incrementally after positive rate of climb
5. Return to desired altitude
ACS: Recover promptly, heading ±10°, no secondary stall, positive rate before retracting flaps.
Entry: Reduce power to idle. Maintain altitude with back pressure as speed decays. Aircraft will stall as critical AoA is exceeded.
Recovery at first indication: Stall warning horn, buffet, or mushy controls:
1. Reduce AoA — brisk forward pressure to break the stall
2. Full power — simultaneously
3. Level wings with coordinated controls
4. Retract flaps incrementally after positive rate of climb
5. Return to desired altitude
ACS: Recover promptly, heading ±10°, no secondary stall, positive rate before retracting flaps.
AFH Ch.4; ACS PA.VII.B
Wing Drop Recovery §
If one wing drops at the stall:
Correct with rudder opposite to the drop — not aileron. Applying aileron to a stalled wing increases its AoA further and can aggravate the stall or initiate a spin.
Once the stall is broken with forward stick/yoke and wings are level with rudder, then roll to wings level with ailerons normally.
The base-to-final stall is the most common fatal approach accident: pilot overshoots final, applies back pressure + outside rudder (skid). The stalling outer wing drops, autorotation begins. No altitude to recover. Prevention: increase bank angle or go around — never skid at low altitude.
Correct with rudder opposite to the drop — not aileron. Applying aileron to a stalled wing increases its AoA further and can aggravate the stall or initiate a spin.
Once the stall is broken with forward stick/yoke and wings are level with rudder, then roll to wings level with ailerons normally.
The base-to-final stall is the most common fatal approach accident: pilot overshoots final, applies back pressure + outside rudder (skid). The stalling outer wing drops, autorotation begins. No altitude to recover. Prevention: increase bank angle or go around — never skid at low altitude.
PHAK Ch.4; AFH Ch.8