AI.X.I.K3FAA-S-ACS-25 · Nov 2023Knowledge
What causes a spin and how to identify the entry, incipient, and developed phases of a ...
What causes a spin and how to identify the entry, incipient, and developed phases of a spin.
Bottom line
There are four phases of a spin: entry, incipient, developed, and recovery. The incipient phase occurs from the time the airplane stalls and starts rotating until the spin has fully developed. The developed phase occurs when the airplane’s angular rotation rate, airspeed, and vertical speed are stabilized in a flightpath that is nearly vertical.
Key numbers
| Number | What it means |
|---|---|
| two to four turns for most airplanes | Incipient turns |
| prior to completing 360° of rotation | Recovery start |
| approximately 1,000 feet | First turn loss |
| recovery at or above 1,500 feet AGL | Spin floor |
FAA references
- AFH ch. 5, Spin Awareness; Spin Procedures (pp. 5-22–5-24) — FAA-H-8083-3C
- RMH Glossary — FAA-H-8083-2A
- AFH ch. 13 (p. 13-18) — FAA-H-8083-3C
- AIH ch. 9 (p. 9-9) — FAA-H-8083-9B
- PHAK ch. 5 (p. 5-44) — FAA-H-8083-25C (2023)
- PHAK ch. 10 (p. 10-3) — FAA-H-8083-25C (2023)
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