FAA Ground School Practice Test

During a spin to the left, which wing(s) is/are stalled?

1. Only the left wing

2. Only the right wing

3. Both wings

4. Neither wing

The correct answer is: Both wings

In a spin, the airplane is in a stalled condition, which means that the critical angle of attack has been exceeded for at least one of its wings. During a left spin, the left wing is typically at a higher angle of attack than the right wing, leading to the left wing being at or beyond the stall angle. However, for an aircraft to maintain a spin, both wings are essentially in a stalled condition. While the left wing is more heavily stalled, the right wing is also stalled but experiencing less extreme conditions, allowing the aircraft to continue spinning. This dynamic is crucial because the spin cannot continue unless both wings are in a state of stall; otherwise, the airplane would recover and exit the spin. Thus, both wings are stalling concurrently, which is why the correct answer indicates that during a spin to the left, both wings are indeed stalled.