Chapter Two Unusual Attitudes and Out-Of-Control Flight

CHAPTER TWO

UNUSUAL ATTITUDES AND OUT-OF-CONTROL FLIGHT

200. INTRODUCTION TO OUT-OF-CONTROL FLIGHT

Intentional OCF maneuvers are conducted to enhance pilot proficiency in OCF recovery. OCF

training shall only be conducted on NATOPS training flights (C9001-C9005), NATOPS check

flights (C9190), OCF semi-annual refresher flights, or as part of an approved curriculum training

flight authorized by unit commanding officers or higher authority. All intentional departures

shall be done with ground reference and clear of clouds. Clearing turns and the Preaerobatic

Checklist shall be accomplished prior to initiating any practice OCF maneuver. All maneuvers

shall be recovered above 5000 feet AGL.

CAUTION

Rapid airspeed buildups may occur during OCF recovery. Take

care when performing maneuvers with the landing gear extended

and the flaps down to avoid overspeeds.

201. OUT-OF-CONTROL FLIGHT

OCF is the seemingly random motion of the airplane about one or more axes. OCF originates

from a stalled condition if the inertial forces on the airplane exceed the aerodynamic control

authority. It is for this reason OCF cannot be halted by any application of controls. In fact,

certain control applications may intensify the motions. OCF usually results from stalls in

accelerated or out-of-balanced flight or from stalls where improper recovery control inputs are

applied. OCF, in general, can be divided into three categories:

PSGs are the random motions of the airplane about one or more axes immediately

following a stall. A PSG can occur at normal flying speed (from an accelerated stall) or at slow

speed following a normal stall. The PSG can be extended through continued application of post-

stall controls or misapplication of stall recovery controls. At normal flying speeds, a PSG will

dissipate kinetic energy so that the aircraft tends to slow to a potential incipient spin condition.

At slow airspeeds, the post-stall condition is accompanied by flight controls ineffective

compared to the inertial forces present. PSGs may be extremely violent and disorienting. The

intuitive response of rapidly applying controls in all axes in an attempt to stop the PSG is

generally ineffective or exacerbates the random motions. PSGs are aggravated by maintenance

of aft stick and rapid cycling of the rudder pedals. A pilot can usually identify a PSG by noting

an uncommanded (and often rapid) aircraft motion about any axis, an immediate feeling of lost

control authority, stalled or near-stalled AOA, random (usually transient) airspeed and random

turn needle deflection.

Incipient Spin is the motion occurring between a PSG and a fully developed spin.

Additionally, the reversal phase of a progressive spin is also an incipient spin. Any stall can

progress to an incipient spin if steps are not taken to recover the aircraft at either the stall or PSG.

An incipient spin is a spin-like motion in which the aerodynamic and inertial forces are not yet in

balance, but where there is sustained, unsteady yaw rotation. As a result, an incipient spin is

UNUSUAL ATTITUDES AND OUT-OF-CONTROL FLIGHT 2-1