12) LOSS OF SPEED AWARENESS ACCIDENTS

The FAA desires that all aircraft maintain a minimum 30% speed buffer above stall in all flight conditions. The exception to this is during final approach when under certain conditions it may be permissible to go as low as 20% above stall speed, or 1.2 Vso. A large percentage of GA accidents occur during clean wing maneuvering either after takeoff during climb, or entering the traffic pattern and maneuvering. When a pilot becomes distracted and allows speed to decay, GA has no audible or visual warning to alert the pilot that they have transgressed this sacred 30% area. The stall horn does activate very close to the actual stall but in most cases, it is too late. A spin often follows an aerodynamic stall. Most of these accidents happen below 1000 AGL where even the most proficient pilot in the world would have no chance of completing a spin recovery prior to impact. PREVENTION is the only real tool available. Be aware of that 30% by placarding Vs1 x 1.404 for your aircraft right on the face of your airspeed indicator! Studies have shown that this simple indicator is almost 100% effective in increasing a pilot’s awareness of where this 30% clean buffer boundary is.