A tailspin is an aerodynamic stall resulting in a sustained, autorotating spiral dive. One wing drops and stalls more deeply than the other, causing the aircraft to yaw and roll uncontrollably toward the ground. Pilots must apply opposite rudder and break the stall to recover before losing too much altitude.
Heard on the job
The student pilot entered a tailspin during the slow flight maneuver but recovered at three thousand feet.
Also heard as
- spin