Certified Flight Instructor - Flight Instructor Airplane Practice Exam

Flat skidding turns at low altitudes such as in the traffic pattern are often the result of?

1. Conscious or subconscious effort to avoid banking close to the ground.

2. Attempting to execute a turn solely by reference to instruments.

3. Fixating on nose reference while excluding wing reference.

4. Inadequate coordination of aileron and rudder inputs.

The correct answer is: Conscious or subconscious effort to avoid banking close to the ground.

The phenomenon of flat skidding turns, especially at low altitudes like in the traffic pattern, is often associated with a conscious or subconscious effort to avoid excessive bank angles close to the ground. Pilots, in an effort to maintain safety and control, may instinctively reduce bank angle, which can lead to a steeper-than-desired descent rate. This behavior is typically motivated by the fear of stalling or losing control in proximity to the ground. In the context of flight training, understanding the dynamics of turns and the necessary balance between aileron and rudder inputs becomes crucial. When a pilot minimizes bank angle, the aircraft may not turn efficiently, leading to a situation where the aircraft’s trajectory remains more linear rather than following a proper arc. The result can be a more pronounced descent induced by an inadequate bank angle and lack of enough lift on the wings. Other issues like attempting to fly solely by instruments or fixating on specific references can lead to misinterpretations of what the aircraft is doing but are less fundamental causes of flat skidding turns in this scenario. Inadequate coordination of aileron and rudder inputs would certainly contribute to control problems but is not the primary driver behind the instinctive reduction of bank angle close to the ground