Certified Flight Instructor - Flight Instructor Airplane Practice Exam

What scenario best describes an accelerated stall?

1. A stall during straight and level flight

2. A stall while climbing

3. A stall during a banked turn

4. A stall during descent

The correct answer is: A stall during a banked turn

An accelerated stall occurs when an aircraft experiences a stall not simply due to a reduction in airspeed, but rather as a result of increased load factor typically associated with maneuvers such as turns. When an aircraft is in a banked turn, the increased angle of attack required to maintain level flight increases the load factor acting on the wings, leading to a stall at higher airspeeds than the aircraft’s normal stall speed. In a banked turn, the pilot must maintain sufficient lift to counteract the increased gravitational force acting on the aircraft due to the bank, which often leads to a situation where the angle of attack can exceed the critical angle needed to maintain lift, resulting in an accelerated stall. This phenomenon highlights the importance of being aware of the load factor during maneuvers and understanding that the stall speed is not a constant but is affected by the aircraft's configuration and the maneuver it is performing. Stalls during straight and level flight or during climb are scenarios of classical stalls where speed is the primary factor. A stall during descent, while still a stall event, does not typically involve the same increased load factor considerations that define an accelerated stall. Therefore, the scenario that best describes an accelerated stall is indeed the one involving a stall during