Definition
A grouping of recurring mistakes pilots make when executing instrument turns, including improper bank control, failure to coordinate rudder and aileron inputs, fixation on a single instrument, incorrect use of the attitude indicator and turn coordinator, poor altitude and heading control during the turn, and failure to lead the rollout to arrive on the desired heading.
Plain English
The typical mistakes pilots tend to repeat when turning the aircraft using only the instruments, such as banking too steeply or too shallow, staring at one gauge, slipping or skidding through the turn, gaining or losing altitude, and rolling out too late or too early to land on the target heading.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument flying training when learning how to enter, maintain, and roll out of turns using cockpit instruments instead of outside visual references.
Why Pilots Care
Identifying and avoiding these errors prevents loss of control and spatial disorientation during instrument flight.
Grounding Statement
In a turn on instruments, a small missed pitch or bank change can become an altitude or heading error before the pilot feels it.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as general advice about making a turn look smooth. In this FAA context, it means specific, repeatable control and instrument-scanning mistakes that pilots make while turning.
Example Sentence 1
During the lesson, the instructor reviewed the common errors during turns, then had the student fly a series of standard-rate turns while consciously avoiding each one.
Example Sentence 2
Recognizing common errors during turns allowed the pilot to correct uncoordinated flight immediately.