Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) Practice Exam

What defines a secondary stall?

1. A stall occurring during a normal flight maneuver

2. A stall happening after a recovery from a previous stall

3. A stall resulting from incorrect throttle settings

4. A stall that occurs when performing steep turns

The correct answer is: A stall happening after a recovery from a previous stall

A secondary stall is defined as a stall that occurs after a recovery from a previous stall. This phenomenon often happens if the pilot does not maintain sufficient airspeed or properly manage the aircraft's angle of attack during the recovery process. After completing a stall recovery, the pilot may inadvertently cause the aircraft to exceed its critical angle of attack again if corrective actions, such as reducing pitch too quickly, are not taken. Secondary stalls are significant because they illustrate the importance of understanding the aircraft's behavior in a stall condition and the need for careful handling to prevent a return to stall conditions. In training scenarios, instructors emphasize the need for a smooth, controlled recovery to avoid this situation. Other definitions, such as a stall during normal flight maneuvers, issues with throttle settings, or stalls during steep turns, do not accurately represent the characteristics and concerns associated with a secondary stall. These scenarios involve different contexts whereby the causes and implications of the stalling situation vary significantly from what is seen with a secondary stall.