If you are in a spin, would lowering the landing gear and flaps get you out of it?

Question

I assume, that lowering gear, flaps would interupt the airflow, change the c.g.(maybe) and slow the aircraft, would it slow down/stop a spin? I am using a single engine retractable gear higher end of the envelope aircraft, such as a Mooney.

Answer 1

The guy above presents the best answer. Generally, if an aeroplane departs into a spin the recovery procedure is as follows.

1) Centralise controls
2) Bring throttles to Idle
3) Establish the direction of spin
4) Apply full opposite rudder
5) Wait for yawing motion to cease
6) Recover using gentle back-stick to avoid loads exceedance or aircraft re-departure into stall.

Note that it is not always easy to establish spin direction, some modes of departure are extremely violent and disorientating. The best method of spin recovery is to avoid it in the first place.

Answer 2

First off, unless the POH says to lower the flaps and drop the gear, don't do it. A spin is not the time to experiment with different configurations. In many GA airplanes, getting out of spins may be as simple as letting go of the controls .Others will require the conventional recovery method using rudder and if the aircraft is self-correcting, it will have a tendency to get out with little pilot input. Having said that, the idea of dropping the gear and lowering the flaps during a spin, besides being unpredictable introduces more variables to the equation.

If anything, here is what I think might happen. The flaps will give you a flatter spin, causing more delayed on the recovery. The gear will even add more drag, and change your profile. During the recovery from the dive, you might overstress the flaps or exceed your gear speed.

As far as slowing the aircraft, well, you just need to worry about your vertical velocity. You'll loose altitude very fast.

Answer 3

I fly model airplanes and if you want to see a spin recovery, ask one of the R/C flyers to show you. (A picture is worth a thousand words).

When I put the model into a spin, I do exactly as all of the above pilots said. It's amazing how fast the aircraft stops spining when the controls are neutralized. The only difference in my models and full scale is that because of less mass, I don't have to input rudder. Actually, I think lowering the flaps and landing gear would throw the aircraft into an inverted spin. I'll have to try it.

Just as a course of conversation, having an R/C pilot put the model in different situations a full scale aircraft could get into for you, is a valuable tool . We fly up to 1/4 scale commercial , private and warplane models. I am currently finishing a 1/4 scale P 40 N. The only major flaw is that I will be flying with a FUJI engine for power. Oh well.

And, when I crash, I walk away with only a broken heart.

Answer 4

Absolutely not.
What you are in is yaw, coupled with roll.
If you created more drag in this situation you would lose altitude way too fast.
The proper way to get out of a spin is
Power -Engine to idle
Ailerons - to neutral
Rudder - Full Opposite of spin
Elevator - to neutral
Hold these until the spin stops.(Happens quickly)
Then rudder neutral
Elevator - Recover to straight and level
Power as needed to climb.

Flaps will flatten a spin and will disrupt airflow to the rudder.
Even if you did mange to come out of a spin with flaps it is almost a surety your airspeed would be over the Vfe and damage would result.

Emergency Manoeuvre Training is advised. Learn a new skill until it becomes second nature. You will learn the aircraft envelope and staying out of a spin in normal aircraft is much easier and safer.
Aerobatics, well that is another story........

Learn to fly another day.

Recommended reading
http://www.richstowell.com/

Answer 5

Always refer to the procedures set out in the pilot's operating handbook for spin recovery. Do not take anyone's advice on Yahoo! for anything in this regard as your life will depend on it. Check your POH and follow what the manufacturer says. Period.

Bear this in mind:

Generally flaps down will likely disrupt airflow over the empennage and reduce rudder / elevator effectiveness. As a 3000 hr commercial pilot my call, in my airplane (and in conjunction with the POH) is FLAPS - UP.

As for the gear I would personally be inclined to leave it wherever it is - unless your POH says otherwise. Chances are you won't have time to think about the effect of landing gear on CG when spinning. Concentrate on your control inputs.

Best advice:

DO NOT EVER GET ANYWHERE NEAR A STALL IN A HIGH PERFORMANCE AIRPLANE. Skinny wings on Mooneys, Cessna 210, Caravan, and other laminar flow aerofoils do not spin well. Keep your speed up, keep the ball in the middle and don't bugger around near the stall.

Fly safe.

Answer 6

commonly conversing, that's continuously a nasty theory to regulate the plane's configuration only in the previous landing on the runway, because it destabilizes the frame of mind. unexpected reducing of the flaps will enhance carry and drag, causing a unexpected decrease in descent cost and airspeed. The aircaft might want to drift for too large a distance down the runway, in elementary words to stall even as too a lot airspeed bleeds off. different issues might want to ensue. that's only no longer a sturdy theory. the conventional rule is for you to be in a stabilized frame of mind lengthy in the previous you attain the runway. in case you recognize that you at the on the spot are not real stabilized, you pass round, somewhat than make very last minute transformations to the configuration that you may want to experience sorry about.

Answer 7

NO!

First of all, Don't spin a Mooney. Not certified for Spins.

If you happen to get into a spin due to distraction etc, you'll probably be in the traffic pattern, too low to recover. Very slick airplane that is known to loose alot of altitude quickly in a spin.

Answer 8

While I am not an aviation expert,there have been stories of aircraft in a spin using their flaps and landing gear to slow the descent of the craft enough to gain control and stop the spin after all other attempts failed.

Answer 9

The answer applies to the cockpit, and not to the observer outside the aircraft: stand on the same rudder as the wing that is moving forward across the horizon.

Pulling on the yoke may actually tighten the spiral. Lowering the landing gear and pushing the throttles may work if you are in an overspeed situation and the altimeter is rapidly unwinding.

Answer 10

BIG NO NO.

the main problem of getting out of a spin is lack of speed. since the aircraft is going in a circle it cant build enough speed in any direction.

best bet is to put the nose down. pray to the gods of aviation and build some airspeed