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Why is there a spiral limitation in the Beechcraft Skipper POH?

Asked by: 3995 views Aerodynamics, General Aviation, Private Pilot

I was recently offered the chance to hour build in a friend's Beechcraft Skipper.  I've always been a fan of Beechcraft and have time in a D and S-35, but never a Skipper.   Before flying it I started going over the POH and checklists just to familiarize myself and I came upon something that I just don't understand.  I can't figure out if I'm interpreting the written words incorrectly or if this is an actual limitation in the aircraft. There is a note in the POH and I've come across many posts on forums agreeing with it, but no one explains why.  The note says that a Skipper should not be spiraled for more than 2 turns.  Prohibiting a spin for more than two turns would make a lot of sense, CYA and all that, but not the spiral descent.  And this is noted after the spin recovery section.  It's a good, efficient, way to descend.  It's even on the PPL check ride and its sticking out in my mind because I was just practicing emergency spiral descents in a 172 with a friend. The only thing that I could think of was another note saying not to idle the plane ever in flight that descents should always be made with at least some power on.  Is this a case where the slight throttle is going to overstress the airframe?  Or you'll either ice the carb or hit Vne?  It doesn't seem likely to me especially since it's a utility category aircraft like most Beechcraft. Anyway this was a head scratcher for me and I thought maybe a CFI that had instructed in one would know the definitive answer. Thanks

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1 Answers



  1. Kris Kortokrax on Oct 13, 2015

    Limitations are found in the Limitations section of the POH. If it doesn’t appear there, it is not a limitation.

    The fact that you say it appears right after the text concerning spins leads me to believe that they are concerned about the airplane transitioning from a spin to a spiral and the rapid buildup of speed. This is an entirely different situation from performing a steep spiral as a Commercial maneuver where you are spiraling at glide speed, rather than heading toward Vne.

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