What is an airplane stall and what are common cues indicating an impending stall?

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Multiple Choice

What is an airplane stall and what are common cues indicating an impending stall?

A stall happens when the wing’s airflow becomes separated because the angle of attack is above the wing’s critical limit, causing a loss of lift. It’s an aerodynamic issue, not primarily a power problem, and it can occur at any power setting if the angle of attack is too high. Common cues indicating an impending stall include buffet or a stall warning, which signal flow separation on the wing; a feeling of reduced control effectiveness or stiffness as you approach the limit; a nose-high pitch attitude as you lose airspeed; and a decreasing indicated airspeed toward the stall speed. When these cues appear, the corrective action is to push the nose down to decrease angle of attack, add power as needed, and regain coordinated flight to recover. The other descriptions don’t fit the concept of a stall. A stall is not caused by engine power alone; it’s not an intentional descent maneuver nor a sign of instrument failure.

A stall happens when the wing’s airflow becomes separated because the angle of attack is above the wing’s critical limit, causing a loss of lift. It’s an aerodynamic issue, not primarily a power problem, and it can occur at any power setting if the angle of attack is too high.

Common cues indicating an impending stall include buffet or a stall warning, which signal flow separation on the wing; a feeling of reduced control effectiveness or stiffness as you approach the limit; a nose-high pitch attitude as you lose airspeed; and a decreasing indicated airspeed toward the stall speed. When these cues appear, the corrective action is to push the nose down to decrease angle of attack, add power as needed, and regain coordinated flight to recover.

The other descriptions don’t fit the concept of a stall. A stall is not caused by engine power alone; it’s not an intentional descent maneuver nor a sign of instrument failure.

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