Which statement about aft center of gravity and stall recovery is true?

Which statement about aft center of gravity and stall recovery is true?

• A. It can make stall recovery more difficult.
• B. It makes stall recovery easier.
• C. It has no effect on stall recovery.
• D. It prevents stalls.

Answer: (A)

An aft center of gravity reduces pitch stability, which directly affects stall recovery. When the weight sits toward the tail, the airplane becomes less stable in the nose-up to nose-down sense. After a stall, you rely on a nose-down pitch to reduce angle of attack and regain controlled flight. With the CG aft, the aircraft tends to hold a nose-high attitude longer, and the tail surfaces must work harder to produce the necessary nose-down moment. In some airplanes the tail can even lose effectiveness or stall, further diminishing control authority. All of this means you often need a more decisive, timely, and coordinated forward pitch input (and appropriate power) to recover, making stall recovery more difficult.

An aft center of gravity reduces pitch stability, which directly affects stall recovery. When the weight sits toward the tail, the airplane becomes less stable in the nose-up to nose-down sense. After a stall, you rely on a nose-down pitch to reduce angle of attack and regain controlled flight. With the CG aft, the aircraft tends to hold a nose-high attitude longer, and the tail surfaces must work harder to produce the necessary nose-down moment. In some airplanes the tail can even lose effectiveness or stall, further diminishing control authority. All of this means you often need a more decisive, timely, and coordinated forward pitch input (and appropriate power) to recover, making stall recovery more difficult.