Certified Flight Instructor - Flight Instructor Airplane Practice Exam

Which maneuver would most likely stall an airplane if performed too slowly?

1. Steep turn.

2. Lazy eight.

3. Chandelle.

4. Power-off approach.

The correct answer is: Lazy eight.

The maneuver that would most likely stall an airplane if performed too slowly is the lazy eight. This aerodynamic maneuver requires the pilot to momentarily reduce airspeed as they transition through the various phases of the figure-eight pattern. The lazy eight involves steep climbs and descents, as well as coordinated turns, which can lead to a decrease in lift as the angle of attack increases. As the aircraft is maneuvering through the low-speed segments of a lazy eight, particularly at the extreme ends where the pilot is attempting to reach the highest and lowest points of the arc, there is an increased risk of stalling. If the maneuver is executed too slowly and the pilot does not maintain sufficient airspeed throughout the turn, the aircraft may exceed the critical angle of attack, resulting in a stall. In the context of other maneuvers, while steep turns, chandelles, and power-off approaches also have specific airspeed requirements, they are generally performed with intentional control inputs that help to maintain a safe margin above stall speed. The lazy eight's inherent nature, requiring smooth and continuous changes in pitch and bank, combined with the potential for low speed, makes it particularly susceptible to stalls if those conditions are not vigilantly managed.