Spins Not Specified In POH, Illegal?

[SE7EN]

My questions are about the legality of things, not whether someone will has or should.

Here’s a situation: Suppose you have an airplane that’s certified for aerobatics and normal category. The aerobatic maneuvers approved are listed and restricted to a specific arm (“ aft if datum) but spins are not mentioned in this list. Only thing in the POH about spins is a description on how to recover, that’s it. Can you do spins in normal category legally? What CARS regulation would you be breaking?

605.03 (b)
says you need to operate in accordance with the flight authority. However the poh and airworthiness cert. don’t specify which category spins must be conducted in.

Aerobatic Manoeuvre Defined As:
Bank greater than 60* or an abnormal attitude or acceleration incidental to normal flying.

Legally, am I supposed to assume because it’s an aerobatic manoeuvre by definition it should be conducted in the Utility/AB category even though it doesn’t specify that? Or am I missing a CARS reg? If I wanted to do a flight test that required a spin in said plane, and I was in the normal category, would it be legal/allowed?

[PilotDAR]

One of the places which provides the reference you're looking for can be found:

§ 3.778 Operating limitations—

...........

(e) Maneuvers. All authorized maneuvers and the appropriate air-speed limitations as well as all unauthorized maneuvers shall be included in accordance with the following:

(1) Normal category. All acrobatic maneuvers, including spins, are unauthorized. If the airplane has been demonstrated to be characteristically incapable of spinning in accordance with § 3.124 (d), a statement to this effect shall be entered here.

(2) Utility category. All authorized maneuvers demonstrated in the type flight tests shall be listed, together with recommended entry speeds. All other maneuvers are not approved. If the airplane has been demonstrated to be characteristically incapable of spinning in accordance with § 3.124 (d), a statement to this effect shall be entered here.

(3) Acrobatic category. All approved flight maneuvers demonstrated in the type flight tests shall be included, together with recommended entry speeds.

.......

Spins are not approved in normal category airplanes. If spins are approved in aerobatic category, they will be specifically listed.

Do not be confused by the fact that all single engine propeller powered planes are required to demonstrate compliance with recovery of a one turn spin, though are still not spin approved. A spin approved plane will have demonstrated recovery from a six turn spin. Using a 172 as an example, it will recover a one turn spin with any loading, though will only recover a six turn spin with the back seat empty. So it's spin approved utility category back seat empty, and spins not approved back seat occupied.

Spin recovery of non spin approved airplanes may require above average pilot skill - avoid!

[OldInstructor]

I am not aware of any aircraft in the normal category that can spin. Most training aircraft that can be must be within the more restrictive utility category. This typically is at a reduced weight and restrictive C of G envelope although there may be other restrictions. The PA 28 140 for instance when in utility category can not be spun when equipped with Air conditioning.

[JasonE]

All early PA28-140's can be spun - just read your POH. After being mentored and getting comfy with my PA28 I spun it many times. I highly recommend any advanced flight training on type or mentoring.

[SE7EN]

One of the places which provides the reference you're looking for can be found:

§ 3.778 Operating limitations—

...........

(e) Maneuvers. All authorized maneuvers and the appropriate air-speed limitations as well as all unauthorized maneuvers shall be included in accordance with the following:

(1) Normal category. All acrobatic maneuvers, including spins, are unauthorized. If the airplane has been demonstrated to be characteristically incapable of spinning in accordance with § 3.124 (d), a statement to this effect shall be entered here.

(2) Utility category. All authorized maneuvers demonstrated in the type flight tests shall be listed, together with recommended entry speeds. All other maneuvers are not approved. If the airplane has been demonstrated to be characteristically incapable of spinning in accordance with § 3.124 (d), a statement to this effect shall be entered here.

(3) Acrobatic category. All approved flight maneuvers demonstrated in the type flight tests shall be included, together with recommended entry speeds.

.......

Thank you! Where is that reference from? I can’t seem to find it in the CARs or AIM.

[jakeandelwood]

A Cessna 172 is only in the utility category under certain conditions, within certain weight and balance I believe, otherwise it's considered a normal category aircraft. I don't know of any other plane that has that "either or" designation.A Cessna 150 for example is always utility unless it's an Aerobat model then it's in the aerobatic category