Cessna 172 spins from the cockpit
August 4, 2011
I did flight training way back when, and decided to do some practicing of some upper air work. Of course, for the most part, the video I captured was boring, except for takeoff and landing, but I had also done some spins, which really were the most interesting and most fun part of training. This video was captured in a Cessna 172N. I had the camera mounted in the back seat on a tripod, with the tripod fixed in place by 2 seatbelts. Next time I might try some kind of suction mount configuration on the wind screen.
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5 Responses to “Cessna 172 spins from the cockpit”
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@DirectTech The POH for the C172N states, “Intentional spins are approved in this airplane within certain restricted loadings. Spins with baggage loadings or occupied rear seat(s) are not approved” This is in section 4. The appropriate loadings are part of the Utility category on the W&B graphs in section 6 (2000 lbs and 40.5″ CofG). All of these spins were compliant with the POH and applicable laws in the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs).
My c172 and everyone I have ever been in have a placard that says “No intentional spins”. Personally, I think it’s there for a reason…
The utility category for doing any spin training is a max weight of 2000 lbs and an aft CofG of 40.5″. If the engine quit, the spin is still recoverable. You just follow engine failure procedures once out of the dive. I was at about 7500 ft. You don’t lose too much altitude when you are spinning as your aircraft is in a constant stall. It is the resulting dive when you brak out of the spin that can cause major losses in altitude. Overall, probably around 1000 ft once all is done.
Nice! I would be scared to do that on Cessna… What are possible loads during those spins? I’d be also afraid that the engine might quit, I had it coughed even after a few seconds of zero gravity fall (not a pleasant sound). What was the altitude? How much did you loose when recovered from the spin?
More private pilots need to put themselves in these situations while it can be done in a controlled environment while you are at your best mentally as well as physically and not in an emergency when most lose some of that mental brain power!
Nice job.