Statistics show that roughly 7% of all commercial aircraft accidents involve stalls. When an aircraft experiences a stall, it will no longer produce sufficient lift. The engine or engines will likely continue to run. Instead, the aircraft’s angle of attack may exceed its critical angle of attack. While all stalls involve a loss of lift, however, there are many different types of stalls, including the following.
#1) Power-On
Power-on stalls are characterized by an excessively high climb power setting. Also known as departure stalls, they occur when the aircraft’s climb power is too high. Power-on stalls are particularly common during takeoffs and when climbing. As the pilot pitches the aircraft at a high power setting, the aircraft may stall.
#2) Power-Off
In addition to power-on stalls, there are power-off stalls. They occur when the aircraft slows down too quickly. Power-off stalls are particularly common during landings and when descending. During a power-off stall, the aircraft will quickly slow down to the point where it no longer produces sufficient lift. As a result, the aircraft will experience a power-off stall, which causes it to lose altitude.
#3) Accelerated
One of the most common types of stalls is accelerated. As the name suggests, they involve a higher-than-normal airspeed. Accelerated stalls may occur during steep turns, or when the pilot pulls back sharply on the yoke or controls. With accelerated stalls, the aircraft will exceed its critical angle of attack while traveling at a higher-than-normal airspeed.
#4) Cross-Control
Another type of stall is cross-control. Cross-control stalls are characterized by alternating aileron pressure and rudder pressure. They occur when the pilot applies aileron pressure in one direction and rudder pressure in the opposite direction. If the pilot overshoots the runway, for instance, they may apply alternating aileron pressure and rudder pressure, resulting in a cross-control stall.
#5) Secondary
There are also secondary stalls. Secondary stalls proceed a primary stall. When a stall occurs, the pilot will typically take action to recover from it. If the aircraft hasn’t regained sufficient speed, though, the aircraft will exceed its critical angle of attack once again, resulting in a secondary stall. Secondary stalls prolong the long off lift while subsequently making it more difficult to recover from.
Whether it’s a power-on, power-off, accelerated, cross-control or secondary stall, all types of stalls involve insufficient lift. The aircraft will no longer produce enough lift to maintain or increase its altitude.
