Certified Flight Instructor - Flight Instructor Airplane Practice Exam

During a right turn, what happens if the inclinometer indicates less than centered?

1. The aircraft requires more right pedal pressure to center the ball.

2. The aircraft requires less right pedal pressure to center the ball.

3. The aircraft will roll to the left.

4. The aircraft is experiencing a stall condition.

The correct answer is: The aircraft requires less right pedal pressure to center the ball.

When the inclinometer indicates less than centered during a right turn, it shows that the aircraft is experiencing a skid. This occurs when the airplane is turning too tightly or the pilot is applying excessive bank with insufficient rudder coordination. In this case, the ball in the inclinometer will move to the opposite side of the turn, which indicates that the airplane is not in a coordinated flight. To bring the ball back to the center, the pilot needs to apply more right pedal pressure to counteract the tendency of the aircraft to skid. This additional right rudder is necessary to align the aircraft's flight path with the turn and achieve proper coordination, allowing the aircraft to maintain a balanced turn without excessive yaw. Less right pedal pressure would not help in centering the ball, as that would exacerbate the uncoordinated turn and possibly lead to a more pronounced skid, making the situation worse. Understanding this dynamic between the inclinometer and the rudder input is crucial for ensuring smooth and coordinated turns during flight.