Power-On Stall

The Takeoff and Climb Stall

A power-on stall is set up like a climb: lots of power and a high nose. Because the engine is working hard, this stall is a little more dramatic — the nose drops harder and one wing may dip. Your feet help keep things level.

Power-On Stall

A stall set up like takeoff or a steep climb: full power, nose high, until the wing gives up.

Wing Drop

When one wing dips at the stall. You stop it with rudder — press the pedal on the high-wing side to bring the wings level.

Recovery

Lower the nose to reduce the angle, keep full power, and use rudder (not the yoke) to level the wings, then climb away.

Here's why it's more dramatic: the spinning propeller pushes a swirl of air past the tail, and when the wing stalls that swirl tends to twist the nose to the left. Your right foot on the rudder pedal keeps everything pointed straight.

Instructor Setup

Cessna 172 with G1000, airborne at 4,000 feet. Plan about 20 minutes. Confirm a HELL check and clearing turn before each stall. Brief that the recovery uses rudder, not aileron, to control any wing drop.

Session Flow

1. Brief the setup (3 min). Explain the climb-like configuration and why this stall is more dramatic, in kid terms.
2. Configure for climb (4 min). Reduce to about 50 percent power and slow, then add full power and raise the nose into a steep climb.
3. Enter the stall (5 min). Coach the student to keep raising the nose until the stall break; expect a firmer nose drop and possible wing dip.
4. Recover (6 min). Lower the nose, keep full power, use rudder to level the wings, climb away. Repeat once so the foot work sticks.
5. Wrap (2 min). Return to cruise and recap rudder for wings level.

Stress feet, not yoke, for wing drop. Keep the student calm through the firmer break and coach prompt recovery.

Debrief

Confirm the student stays calm through the firmer stall and uses rudder to level the wings.

• Set up the climb-like configuration with power on and nose high
• Recognized the bigger nose drop and any wing dip
• Recovered by lowering the nose with full power
• Used rudder, not the yoke, to keep the wings level

Next Lesson

Next up is "Why Planes Spin" (K25): how a stall plus a little yaw can start a spin, and how keeping the ball centered prevents it. If the rudder work for wing drop was tricky today, review it in the first two minutes of K25.

Skills You'll Work On

These are the maneuvers and procedures covered in this lesson. Your instructor tracks each one as you progress.

• Clean Stall Entry & Symptoms
• Recovery With & Without Power
• Use of Trim Flaps Mixture Carb Heat

Grades reflect what was covered in this lesson, not a certification of pilot competency.

Lesson Plan

Where this fits: Third of three sessions drawn from PPL Lesson 8, "Stalling." This session covers the power-on (climb) stall; K22 taught angle of attack and K23 covered the power-off (approach) stall.

Prerequisite

K23 "Power-Off Stall" — can enter and recover from a power-off stall in the right order.

Materials

C172 G1000 simulator, student checklist card, headset sized for the student.

Goal for this session

Student can set up, enter, and recover from a power-on stall, using rudder to keep the wings level during recovery.

Looking Ahead

• K25 — Why Planes Spin: how an uncoordinated stall can begin a spin.
• K26 — Don't Spin!: recognizing and recovering from the start of a spin.