AI.X.I.K6FAA-S-ACS-25 · Nov 2023Knowledge
How to determine if an airplane approved for the spin maneuver based on airworthiness c...
How to determine if an airplane approved for the spin maneuver based on airworthiness category and type certificate.
Bottom line
If the manufacturer does not specifically approve an aircraft for spins, intentional spins are not authorized by the CFRs. The official sources for determining whether the spin maneuver is approved are the Type Certificate Data Sheets or aircraft specifications, the limitations section of the FAA-approved AFM/POH, and a placard in clear view of the pilot. No multiengine airplane is approved for spins, and their spin recovery characteristics are generally very poor.
Key numbers
| Number | What it means |
|---|---|
| Recovery from a one-turn spin or a three-second spin, whichever takes longer, in not more than one additional turn after the first control action for recovery | Normal category |
| Zero multiengine airplanes approved for spins | Multiengine |
FAA references
- AFH ch. 5, Intentional Spins; Weight and Balance Requirement Related to Spins (pp. 5-25–5-26) — FAA-H-8083-3C
- AFH ch. 13 (p. 13-18) — FAA-H-8083-3C
- PHAK ch. 5 (p. 5-43) — FAA-H-8083-25C (2023)
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