If the CG is too far aft, which spin characteristic may develop?

If the CG is too far aft, which spin characteristic may develop?

• A. A flat spin may develop if the CG is too far aft
• B. Spin recovers easily
• C. Spin is impossible
• D. No spin at all

Answer: (A)

With the center of gravity far aft, longitudinal stability drops and control effectiveness, especially from the tail, is reduced. In a spin, that combination tends to produce a shallow, nose-level rotation where the wings stay stalled at a lower angle of attack. The tail can’t generate as much restoring moment to push the nose down, so the aircraft can stay in a flat spin more easily. This is why a flat spin may develop when the CG is too far aft. The other possibilities imply more stable or impossible spinning behavior, which doesn’t align with the loss of stability and tail authority that an aft CG causes.

With the center of gravity far aft, longitudinal stability drops and control effectiveness, especially from the tail, is reduced. In a spin, that combination tends to produce a shallow, nose-level rotation where the wings stay stalled at a lower angle of attack. The tail can’t generate as much restoring moment to push the nose down, so the aircraft can stay in a flat spin more easily. This is why a flat spin may develop when the CG is too far aft. The other possibilities imply more stable or impossible spinning behavior, which doesn’t align with the loss of stability and tail authority that an aft CG causes.