Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) Practice Exam

What is the final step in recovering from a power-on stall?

1. Increase pitch attitude

2. Coordinate use of controls to maintain direction

3. Deploy the landing gear

4. Enter into a controlled descent

The correct answer is: Coordinate use of controls to maintain direction

The final step in recovering from a power-on stall is indeed to coordinate the use of controls to maintain direction. During a power-on stall, the aircraft experiences a loss of lift due to an excessive angle of attack, and the pilot must take decisive actions to bring the aircraft back to controlled flight. As part of the recovery process, maintaining directional control is critical. This involves coordinating the ailerons and rudder inputs to ensure that the aircraft's heading remains stable and that it does not enter a spin. During recovery, the pilot also applies forward pressure on the control yoke to decrease the angle of attack, adds power to regain lift, and keeps the wings level to prevent further uncommanded yaw or roll, which could be exacerbated by uncoordinated control inputs. Deploying the landing gear or increasing pitch attitude would not effectively help in stabilizing the flight situation after a stall, as these actions could complicate the recovery rather than facilitate it. Similarly, entering a controlled descent may be a step in some recovery procedures but is not the final step since the primary focus at that moment is regaining control of the aircraft's direction.