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How to Tell if an Airplane Has a Down Thrust

One of the more serious problems a pilot encounters is losing the horizon and failing to understand what the thrust on the airplane is doing. This is frequently a symptom of "flying into the soup." This is when an VFR (Visual Flight Rules) pilot goes into the clouds or loses any reference to the horizon (night flying being another example). When this happens, it is nearly impossible to determine the thrust or direction the airplane is moving. This disorientation occurs in alarming rapidness calling for a quick remedy. In any situation where you lose the self of horizon and direction, go directly to your airplane's attitude indicator.

Instructions

- 1
  Look immediately to the attitude indicator on the airplane's instrument panel. The attitude indicator is sometimes referred to as the "artificial horizon." Look to see if the airplane representation in the center of the attitude indicator is below the horizon line. If the airplane icon is below this line, the airplane is in a downward thrust and speed increase.
- 2
  Look to the airspeed indicator and to the altimeter. Check to see if the airspeed indicator shows increasing speed. Look to the altimeter to see if the airplane is rapidly losing altitude. These are clear-cut signs the airplane has down thrust and the situation needs to be quickly remedied.
- 3
  Fly the instruments. Do not look out the windshield or windows. Concentrate on flying the attitude indicator and all other instruments in the airplane. Bring the airplane back to level by watching the icon in the center of the attitude indicator and keeping the wings level in the icon.

VOR Instructions

How to Troubleshoot an ICOM IC-A210 Squelch

Small Aircraft