Certified Flight Instructor - Flight Instructor Airplane Practice Exam

What is the correct sequence for recovery from a spiraling, nose-low, increasing airspeed, unusual flight attitude?

1. Increase pitch attitude, reduce power, and level wings.

2. Reduce power, correct bank attitude, and raise nose to a level attitude.

3. Reduce power, raise nose to a level attitude, and correct bank attitude.

The correct answer is: Reduce power, correct bank attitude, and raise nose to a level attitude.

The sequence for recovery from a spiraling, nose-low, increasing airspeed, unusual flight attitude is critical for restoring control of the aircraft safely and effectively. The correct answer emphasizes the importance of reducing power first, which is essential in a nose-low attitude with increasing airspeed. By reducing power, you immediately address the energy state of the aircraft, helping to prevent further acceleration and the potential for exceeding the aircraft’s structural limits due to high speed. After reducing power, correcting the bank attitude comes next. This step involves leveling the wings, which is crucial to eliminating the uncoordinated flight that characterizes a spiral descent. Correcting the bank reduces the load factor on the wings and helps stabilize the aircraft, making it easier to control. Finally, raising the nose to a level attitude helps to recover from the descent and stabilize the flight. It’s important to do this step last, as doing so too soon could lead to a stall or overbanking situation, especially if the correction for bank is not yet completed. Overall, this sequence is designed to manage the aircraft's energy state and prevent further exacerbation of the situation while allowing for a controlled recovery back to level flight.