Loss of Control - inadvertant spins

[jedi]

Huh? An airplane is not a boat. You don't steer it with the rudder. You bank the airplane to redirect the lift vector so it will turn. You use the rudder to keep the airplane coordinated (i.e., the ball in the center, not slipping or skidding). The rudder is not turning the airplane. The wings are. Read the FAA's "Airplane Flying Handbook" (FAA-H-8083-3B), starting on page 3-10. The section titled "level turns" will give you the whole scoop. One quote from the handbook that is germane to this discussion:

"The pilot uses the rudder to offset any adverse yaw developed by wing’s differential lift and the engine/propeller. The rudder does not turn the airplane. The rudder is used to maintain coordinated flight."

Note that it specifically states that the rudder does not turn the airplane.

Getting back to spins, others have already stated that you can enter a spin from either a slip or a skid. If the airplane is coordinated during the stall, it won't spin. If it's uncoordinated, it may spin. Keep the ball in the center and all is well!

Agreed, "The rudder does not turn the airplane." In post #5 the young chap flew right wing low in straight flight. This is one of the most common errors CFIs see with students while climbing out on takeoff. The rudder is used to counter engine torque and P factor, etc. to avoid yaw or slip. If the wings are level, rudder must be applied to resist the heading change of the skidded turn. Level the wings and hold heading with the rudder will keep the ball centered and errors are more easily seen than by looking at the ball or yaw string or felt in the seat of your pants.

In turbulence the ball swings from side to side faster than the footwork can handle. Large aircraft have yaw dampers to counter the yaw. The light plane pilot can counter the heading swings with rudder similar to a yaw damper and smooth the ride. Countering the turbulence that raises a wing with only aileron adds adverse yaw that amplifies the heading swings in turbulence. The side to side yawing motion is what generally makes passengers airsick.

I would be happy to give a more detailed explanation of the flight dynamics if you are interested. Summery, use ailerons to hold the wings level or at the desired bank angle and rudder to eliminate yaw. Yaw (heading change) with wings level should be countered with rudder.

If you can agree with that next discussion should be how insufficient rudder use (just opposite the common explanation of too much rudder) can lead one into the fatal turn to final and that can be followed by how aileron effectiveness at high AoA can lead to loss of control as in the video of post #15. Notice that the rudder is centered as the loss of control continues to impact.