What happens during a spin?

During a spin, the aircraft experiences an uncontrolled rotation about its vertical axis as a result of incipient stall conditions and a loss of controlled flight. This phenomenon occurs when one wing stalls while the other continues to produce lift, leading to a rolling motion that causes the aircraft to rotate. The imbalance in lift and drag between the wings results in a yawing motion, where the aircraft spins around its vertical axis.

This rotation can become persistent due to the interaction of airflow over the wings and the control surfaces, making it difficult for the pilot to regain regular control without appropriate recovery techniques. Understanding how a spin develops and the dynamics involved is critical for pilots, as spin recovery requires specific actions to reestablish controlled flight.