Space Cadet
Well Known Member
I consider myself very lucky to still be alive. While conducting a 30-deg banked stall this weekend during Phase 1 testing on my RV-10, I accidentally entered into an aggravated stall, otherwise known as a spin. Having never actually done one before, it took me a bit of time to get out of it and recover. Upon reviewing the flight data from the EFIS, it says I lost over 3500' of altitude, hit 232 mph (that's VNE BTW), and saw 4.6 g's during the pull-up (short duration). Oil door got tweaked and came open, and the engine was pushed down enough for the AC compressor pulley to slice through the lower cowling (it was a tight fit).
Needless to say the whole thing scared the bejeezes out of me.
I say I'm luck to be alive because I HAD been using something like 3000 ft AGL previously for my stall testing, and only because of some rough air had I climbed up to much higher this time.
No permanent damage except to my ego really (still need to inspect the plane a bit more to be sure). No worries, I will continue forward, with some modifications to my remaining test planning.
So, Phase 1 lessons here: Get upset training and/or get current on your stalls (I was rusty, I admit), do stalls in very calm air (think it was a contributing factor), and get lots of altitude for stall testing.
Whew.
Dwight
Needless to say the whole thing scared the bejeezes out of me.
I say I'm luck to be alive because I HAD been using something like 3000 ft AGL previously for my stall testing, and only because of some rough air had I climbed up to much higher this time.
No permanent damage except to my ego really (still need to inspect the plane a bit more to be sure). No worries, I will continue forward, with some modifications to my remaining test planning.
So, Phase 1 lessons here: Get upset training and/or get current on your stalls (I was rusty, I admit), do stalls in very calm air (think it was a contributing factor), and get lots of altitude for stall testing.
Whew.
Dwight