IT'S ALL ABOUT ANGLE OF ATTACK

Top 9 deadly mistakes pilots make with the nose of their airplane.
1. They pitch it up prematurely (prior to Vr) or too aggressively (> 7 degrees of pitch) causing the stall warning to sound or a tail strike to occur (over rotation).
2. They pitch it up excessively (below Vx) during climb causing the stall warning to sound and the risk of a power-on stall to occur.
3. They do not pitch it down enough (to best glide speed Vg) when an engine fails after takeoff causing a stall/spin event.
4. They do not pitch it up enough when an engine fails in flight to achieve best glide speed (Vg) and not making it to a runway or suitable place to land.
5. They pitch it down to commence a descent during an engine roughness event instead of maintaining altitude, thus giving up precious altitude.
6. They pitch it up or down randomly during a go-around or missed-approach instead of pitching for airspeed (Vx or Vy).
7. They do not pitch it down continuously from abeam the numbers to the threshold causing an unstable approach and landing.
8. They pitch it to maintain altitude instead of Vyse (blue line) when an engine fails in a multiengine airplane causing a loss of directional control and stall/spin event.
9. They do not immediately point it in the general direction of the diversion airport when a diversion is necessary adding precious seconds or minutes to the divert and possibly not making it.
Takeaway: the FAA Airplane Flying Handbook instructs us when and how to pitch and point the nose of our airplane during normal and emergency operations. It is our job to follow the advice to mitigate unnecessary drama and possible injury or death.
Fly safe friends ✈️

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