Practicing Stalls in Mooneys (Poll)

[201er]

I was recently talking with some Mooney guys about practicing stalls in Mooneys. And if there was one thing we agreed on, was that we don't wanna do them! Basically the risk of an unrecoverable spin, or at least soiled upholstery, is great enough that practicing the stall isn't worth it.

 

I wonder if others think alike or disagree. How do you feel about practicing stalls in your Mooney? When was the last time you've done it. How do you feel about doing them again. Have you ever ended up in a spin while trying to stall a Mooney? Is stall awareness and recovery in basic trainers sufficient for flight in Mooney to the point that there's not need to continue to practice stalls in these spin prone aircraft?

[Islandmech]

I was recently talking with some Mooney guys about practicing stalls in Mooneys. And if there was one thing we agreed on, was that we don't wanna do them! Basically the risk of an unrecoverable spin, or at least soiled upholstery, is great enough that practicing the stall isn't worth it.

 

I wonder if others think alike or disagree. How do you feel about practicing stalls in your Mooney? When was the last time you've done it. How do you feel about doing them again. Have you ever ended up in a spin while trying to stall a Mooney? Is stall awareness and recovery in basic trainers sufficient for flight in Mooney to the point that there's not need to continue to practice stalls in these spin prone aircraft?

I just finished requalifying for my Commercial licence on my M20F and part of the exam was stalls and incipient spins. Basically was a non-event, the pwr off stall was hardly noticable, pwr on climbing with a wing drop {incipient} took a bit of rudder but very controllable.

 

Cheers, Gary

[Bill_Carter]

Question about this. If you don't check the stall speeds for your aircraft, how could you be sure of your Vref speeds for landing?

[Lionudakis]

A while back I went out with my plane partner/cfi and did several. It stalls pretty smooth, slight wing drop, and a noticeable shake of the yoke from the elevator. I wanted to actually do a few to see what it feels like, and what it take to recover it, and what ias it happens at. Sent from my iPad

[N201MKTurbo]

A week after I bought this Mooney I needed a BFR. We did the BFR at night. The first stall the plane almost snap rolled. I told the instructor that we were done doing stalls. He was good with that. I adjusted the rigging and now it stalls straight ahead, like it should.

[Alan Fox]

I was with an instructor doing power on stalls , I wasn't diligent with the rudder , End it up doing 2 spins before it started flying again......That was my last practice stall in Mooneys.... 

[Z W]

I have stalled a Mooney. It was a non-event. Had a very obvious buffet. Makes me feel much better knowing that.

[scottfromiowa]

The way you wrote the original post does a dis-service to Mooney planes and pilots. You should not feel it is dangerous to stall your plane. You should be comfortable with powered and non-powered stalls. Glad to see poll states what larger percentage believe. "If ball centered it is a non-event". I am talking practice here...the only time I stall my plane is when I WANT IT TO STALL

BOC said don't fear the reaper I say Don't fear the stall...

[carusoam]

I have read about bad stalls, as Alan describes above. But, have not had anything other than straight drops in both C and R models...

Probably knowing about what can happen keeps my toes on the rudders...

Keep the ball straight and throw on some altitude in the event things don't go as planned...

Best regards,

-a-

[scottfromiowa]

"Spin prone aircraft". What a moroon...to quote bugs bunny. Bugs had fun, was not afraid...He liked carrots AND Mooney's....que Warner Bros music

[Sabremech]

Stalls are pretty much a non event in my C model.

David

[mikesalman]

 

[yvesg]

Weird that you ask the question now. On my last two flights, I did not have a passenger, and was just going around with no other plan than to buzz my house (which I always do above minimum legal altitude), I told myself, why don't I use this opportunity to practice slow flight and stalls. After over 10 years of not practicing this I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical on my abilities to do this without sweating too much.

I went to 4000 feet and did a few. I think that what is most important is to recognize when you are near one to properly react and prevent it. Flying at 60 knots and 4000 feet with a Mooney does not feel right at all.

This was a good test for the stall warning indicator too.

Yves

[Super Dave]

the only time I stall my plane is when I WANT IT TO STALL

Every pilot that has ever died in an accidental stall/spin probably thought the same way... right up until that wing unexpectedly dropped, and the earth came rushing up to meet them. This kind of arrogance reveals the real maroon.

[Ned Gravel]

I had to practice them under the hood during my IFR training.  Good wakeup call.  Helped me better understand the flight envelope for my bird.

[Alan Fox]

Every pilot that has ever died in an accidental stall/spin probably thought the same way... right up until that wing unexpectedly dropped, and the earth came rushing up to meet them. This kind of arrogance reveals the real maroon.

After my spin , I did some Mooney specific training with a CFII with 4000 mooney hours , We did Approach to stalls , we did not actually stall the airplane.....I was satisfied with the training.....And yes I gave Scotts commentary the attention it deserved ..... I ignored it.....

[sreid]

This is basic private pilot stuff.  If you're not comfortable going solo and stalling your airplane, best figure out what you need to do to get comfortable, and do it. I guess those of you who won't stall your plane didn't take checkrides in your Mooney? You have to demonstrate stalls to certify aircraft and to certify pilots. It's not like performing intentional stalls is breaking into uncharted territory where no man has gone before.

[Alan Fox]

This is basic private pilot stuff.  If you're not comfortable going solo and stalling your airplane, best figure out what you need to do to get comfortable, and do it. I guess those of you who won't stall your plane didn't take checkrides in your Mooney? You have to demonstrate stalls to certify aircraft and to certify pilots. It's not like performing intentional stalls is breaking into uncharted territory where no man has gone before.

Really ? I've stalled many types , and never had the experience I had w/the Mooney....I guess I'm not the caliber of pilot that you are.....

[WardHolbrook]

Back in the day I took my share of 135 checkrides with the Feds. A full stall series was always part of the checkride. I've also given a few hours of dual doing checkouts, BFRs, etc. I might have been obvious, but the stalls were always non-events and totally unremarkable. I've flown a few aircraft where that wasn't the case, but mis-rigging was usually the cause. (The worst example was a normally docile Cessna 140.) My thought would be that IF you're using the proper techniques and IF you're making all of the proper control inputs and your Mooney is still not behaving like a lady then it might be time to do a rigging check. If you're not using the proper technique and inputs then some quality time with a CFI would be the thing to do.

[sreid]

Really ? I've stalled many types , and never had the experience I had w/the Mooney....I guess I'm not the caliber of pilot that you are.....

Really ? I've stalled many types , and never had the experience I had w/the Mooney....I guess I'm not the caliber of pilot that you are.....

Well, you said it, not me!

In all seriousness, if a pilot can't maintain control of a Mooney throughout a full stall and recovery, there is either something wrong with the plane or something wrong with the pilot.

Steve

[aviatoreb]

A hangar neighbor a few years ago in his M20C was practicing stalls - CFI at his side - and a full stall quickly became a spin.  The CFI is reported to have taken over and had a bear of a time breaking the spin and everyone walked away to tell the story, a bit shaken but fine.  With this story filed away, I have practiced stalls but with extra special care that an unbalanced/uncoordinated stall in a Mooney might be especially unforgiving.

[WardHolbrook]

Just because a CFI has demonstrated spins prior to getting his certificate doesn't necessarily mean that he's any more proficient in them than his/her student. I'm a long time advocate of spin and basic aerobatic training for all fixed-wing pilots. It's money very well spent especially for those guys who walk away from what are otherwise basic maneuvers "a bit shaken". 

[clh]

My $0.02.  To be proficient in your plane you should be able to execute all maneuvers required by the PP Standard or the type standard. (yes, I know what a stall will do to some jets,etc)   But for a single engine piston, I firmly believe you should be competent in stall recovery.  

 

If you have not, you need to get some training with a CFI who is well versed in Mooneys.  You should do some unusual attitude recovery work with him/her.  Knowing your planes envelope will help you avoid the bad areas as well as recover if you get somewhere you should not ordinarily be.  

 

I also believe some spin/acro training will make you a better pilot.  Just not spin in the Mooney.  I have been close to a spin in a Mooney, they are recoverable, but not pleasant.  As far as stalls, I see little difference between a Mooney and any other asel.  keep the ball centered and you will encounter nothing exciting.  

 

Personally, I found the tomahawk much more challenging than the Mooney.

[Bill_Carter]

Personally, I found the tomahawk much more challenging than the Mooney.

I've flown the Traumahawk. Hated that plane (the only plane I ever said that about). Yes it is a challenge. My instructor said If I can fly it well I would be a great pilot. I have read though that it can spin in a manner that is unrecoverable no matter how good the pilot is.

[Dale]

Years ago my father was flying our M20E with a friend of his who was an FAA examiner. The FAA man did not have much time in a mooney so he asked my father how the mooney reacted in a stall, to which my father entered a power on stall at about 6000 feet. The mooney went right up on its nose and the left wing kicked over and the plane went into a spin. My father got momentarily disoriented due to the wing over and pushed in the wrong rudder pedal and tightened up the spin, in the meantime, stuff is flying all over the airplane as it is plummeting down thru 3500 feet with the FAA man just calmly sitting there watching everything with his arms crossed. My father quickly realized his mistake and kicked in the correct rudder and came out of the spin at just under 3000 feet. After all this was over and the plane was straight and level the FAA man turns to my father, and with with his arms still crossed and with the same dead calm look on his face said to my father, "well I guess they don't stall to well do they." Lesson learned - have sufficient altitude for your mooney stalls, you never know when something out of the ordinary will happen and you can't expect any help from the FAA.