Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) Practice Exam

What should be done with the ailerons during a spin recovery?

1. Deflect fully to one side

2. Keep them neutral

3. Trim them up

4. Maintain a slight left input

The correct answer is: Keep them neutral

During a spin recovery, keeping the ailerons neutral is essential. In a spin, the aircraft is already in a condition of uncoordinated flight, and deflecting the ailerons one way or the other can exacerbate the spin instead of aiding in recovery. When the ailerons are held neutral, the pilot allows the aircraft's natural tendency to recover from the spin to take effect. The primary objectives during a spin recovery are to reduce the angle of attack and return the aircraft to controlled flight. By keeping the ailerons neutral, the pilot avoids introducing additional unwanted roll forces, enabling more effective use of rudder and elevator inputs. Typically, the recovery procedure involves applying full opposite rudder to the direction of the spin and then lowering the nose to reduce the angle of attack, leading to a smooth recovery from the spin.