Spins / Spin Awareness - Intentional Spins Training - Ground and Flight Recovery

Sep 25, 2026

Lesson plan for training pilots on intentional spins: purpose, associated hazards, and the aerodynamics that cause spins to develop from uncoordinated stalls. Covers schedule, equipment, student and instructor actions, and completion standards for recognizing spin conditions and performing proper recovery. Ground lesson outline details spin recognition, PAR E recovery inputs, orientation maintenance, maneuver steps, and common errors, supported by FAA and handbook references and video materials.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time20 min

AccessFree to download

Objective

Purpose

Schedule & Equipment

Student and Instructor Actions

Completion Standards

References

Ground Lesson Outline

Spins are “Scary”

Aerodynamics of Spins

Airplanes Approved for Intentional Spins

Impact of CG, Weight, and Coordination

Situations Leading to Unintentional Spins

Basic Spin Recognition and Recovery

How to Spin, On Purpose

Maintaining Orientation

Maneuver Description (step-by-step)

Common Errors

Ground Lesson Content

PPL (VII-D) / CAX (VII-D) / CFI (XI-G) 1 Spins / Spin Awareness | Objective | | | --- | --- | | To ensure the applicant learns the purpose of and can exhibit a clear understanding of the intentional spins maneuver and how to perform the maneuver properly. | | | Purpose | | | Spins are one of the most dangerous hazards that affect pilots, and developing an understanding of the causes for them will make pilots more proficient at avoiding them. This lesson will introduce pilots to the aerodynamics involved in spins, as well as the proper recovery procedures, so that uncoordinated stalls can be properly recovered before they develop into spins. | | | Schedule | Equipment | | ● Ground Lesson: 30 minutes
● Flight: 1 hour-Demonstration of Maneuver
● Debrief: 20 minutes | ● Airplane Checklist
● Whiteboard / Markers (optional)
● Model Airplane (optional) | | Student Actions | Instructor Actions | | ● Ask any questions, receive study material for the next lesson.
● Watch linked videos.
● Review listed references. | ● Deliver the ground lesson (below) .
● Demonstrate the maneuver in flight.
● Debrief after each flight. | | Completion Standards | | | ● Ground: Student can explain the aerodynamics involved in a spin, when spins are likely to occur, and the proper recovery procedure.
● Flight: Student observes the spin or incipient spin demonstration and can demonstrate the proper recovery technique. | | Prepared by: Ryan Binns ([ryancbinns.com/flying](ryancbinns.com/flying)), February 2020 PPL (VII-D) / CAX (VII-D) / CFI (XI-G) 2 | References | | --- | | ● MZeroA Flight Training- “Proper Spin Recovery”
○ YouTube-[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52tPNkBcfmg](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52tPNkBcfmg)
● The UND AeroCast- “Spin Awareness Training”
○ YouTube-[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4XbkwMdZvY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4XbkwMdZvY)
● FAA-H-8083-3B (Airplane Flying Handbook) -Chapter 4 , Page 5-6 [Stalls/Stall Recognition/Stall Recovery], Chapter 4 , Page 13-17 [Spin Awareness/ Intentional Spins]
● FAA-H-8083-25B ( Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge) -Chapter 5 , Page 25-26 [Stalls]
● FAA-S-ACS-6B ( Private Pilot ACS) -Area VII Task D (Spin Awareness)
● FAA-S-ACS-7A (Commercial Pilot ACS) -Area VII Task D (Spin Awareness)
● FAA-S-8081-6D (CFI PTS) -Area XI Task G | | Ground Lesson Outline | | ● Spins are ‘Scary’
○ Anxiety factors
● Aerodynamics of Spins
○ Inside wing more stalled than outside wing
● Airplanes Approved for Intentional Spins
○ Airworthiness category and type certificate.
● Impact of CG, Weight, and Coordination
○ Overweight or out of CG- > Recovery may be impossible!
● Situations Leading to Unintentional Spins
○ Base to Final Turn, Power-On Stall Practice
● Basic Spin Recognition and Recovery
○ P A R E- > Power to Idle, Ailerons Neutral, Rudder Opposite, Elevator Forward to Break Stall
● How to Spin, On Purpose
○ Entry from simulated Base-Final turns (Cross-Controlled Stalls) or ‘Kick’ the rudder at the stall
○ Pro-Spin vs. Anti-Spin Inputs
○ Minimum Entry Altitude-4 ,000ft AGL, Minimum Recovery Altitude-2 ,500ft AGL
● Maintaining Orientation
○ Don’t lose track of heading or altitude, count the spins
● Maneuver Description-step-by-step
○ Clean configuration
○ Entry position, airspeed, etc. | | Common Errors | | ● Failure to establish proper configuration prior to spin entry.
● Failure to achieve and maintain a full stall during spin entry.
● Failure to close throttle when a spin entry is achieved.
● Failure to recognize the indications of an imminent, unintentional spin.
● Improper use of flight controls during spin entry, rotation, or recovery.
● Disorientation during a spin.
● Failure to distinguish between a high-speed spiral and a spin.
● Excessive speed or accelerated stall during recovery.
● Failure to recover with minimum loss of altitude.
● Haza

FAQs

What is the objective of the spin awareness lesson?

The lesson ensures the applicant understands the intentional spins maneuver, its purpose, and how to perform it properly, including correct recovery procedures.

How do uncoordinated stalls lead to spins according to the lesson?

Spins begin with an uncoordinated (often cross-controlled) stall, where one wing stalls first and the induced asymmetry causes rolling and increasing rotation toward the stalled wing.

What recovery inputs are emphasized in the basic spin recovery guidance?

The outline specifies PAR E recovery steps: Power to Idle, Ailerons Neutral, Rudder Opposite, and Elevator Forward to break the stall.

Sep 25, 2026

Uploaded by AfterMidnight