Aerospace Engineering Commons^™

Airplane Pitch Response To Rapid Configuration Change: Flight Test And Safety Assessment, Ralph Kimberlin, Markus Wilde, Brian Kish, Isaac Silver

Journal of Aviation Technology and Engineering

This paper examines airplane response to rapid flap extension on seven general aviation airplanes. The scenario involves a pilot flying in the traffic pattern becoming distracted, abruptly extending flaps while looking outside the airplane, and failing to notice airspeed and pitch-attitude changes. The airplanes tested reached pitch forces of up to 36 lbf, meeting FAA requirements but exceeding the capability of 55% of the population. Flight data showed a pitch-up to more than 30˚ in 5 s after flap extension, causing airspeed to drop below stall speed for four of the airplanes. At traffic pattern altitudes, stalling an airplane can …