Teaching and Learning Flying - Commercial Pilot, Single-Engine Airplane

Steep Spirals

A steep spiral is a continuous gliding turn around a point. The steep spiral maneuver consists of at least 3 gliding 360° turns around a point with a maximum bank angle of 50° to 55° and recovery toward a definite object or on a specific heading.

• Relationship to emergency forced landing situation
• Entry altitude to allow three turns and recovery above minimum safe altitude (1,500 feet AGL); Eg., above 4,500 feet AGL
• Lights on, CLEAR area with two 90° turns, left and right
• Mixture rich, prop in high RPM, check carb temp, CHT
• Maximum bank angle of 50° to 55°

Commercial Pilot PTS, VI, D
• Explain performance factors related to steep spirals
• Select altitude high enough for at least three turns
• Select suitable ground reference
• Establish spiral with steepest bank 50° to 55°, at recommended airspeed and specified radius of turn
• Maintain constant radius in coordinated flight
• Divide attention among airplane control, planning, flight path, and orientation
• Maintain constant airspeed +10 kts
• Recover toward definite object or specific heading which leads into a pattern over an area that could be used for a forced landing

• To improve pilot techniques for power-off turns, wind drift control, planning, orientation, and division of attention.
• To provide a practical procedure for dissipating altitude while remaining over a selected spot in preparation for landing, especially for emergency forced landings

• Review turns around a point, steep turns, engine failure and forced landing procedures
• Discuss definition, safety factors, tolerances, objectives, and other elements, related to steep spirals
• Entry technique
  • Appropriate altitude
  • Lights on, CLEAR area
  • Select reference point
  • Mixture rich, prop in high RPM, check carb temp, CHT
  • Throttle to idle, trim for best glide (09T, 80 kts)
  • Downwind, abeam reference point
• Gliding spiral
  • Bank in desired direction when abeam reference point
  • Correct for wind drift to maintain constant radius from point
  • Maintain constant airspeed (80 kts)
  • Downwind
    • Steepen bank
    • Lower pitch
  • Upwind
    • Shallow bank
    • Raise pitch
  • Clear engine by brief advance of throttle to approx cruise setting
• Recovery technique
  • Smooth, coordinated rollout toward an object or on a heading
  • Maintain constant airspeed, straight glide
  • May set up landing approach
• Demonstrate a steep spiral in flight
• Coach student practice of steep spirals
• Critique student performance

• First turn radius too large, subsequent radii smaller
  • Done unconsciously to keep reference in sight
  • Result is gliding around a "cone" instead of the desired "cylinder"
• Losing the reference in the highest turn
• Poor pitch and bank control
  Airspeed and bank allowed to increase too much
• Poor wind drift correction
• Not completing 1080° of turn (or as directed)
• Losing track of the number of turns
• Improper recovery
  Using outside references allows more accurate directional control

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