Definition
A training maneuver that demonstrates what happens when an aircraft is trimmed nose-up for a low-power configuration (such as a go-around setup) and then full power is applied without the pilot counteracting the strong nose-up pitching tendency. The aircraft pitches up sharply toward a stall, and the pilot must recognize the situation and recover by applying firm forward pressure on the controls and re-trimming as needed.
Plain English
A practice exercise where the airplane is set up so that, when full power is added, the nose pitches up so strongly it can lead to a stall unless the pilot pushes forward and corrects the trim. It teaches pilots to recognize and handle this dangerous tendency, which can occur during a botched landing or go-around.
Context Anchor
Seen in flight training syllabi and stall-awareness lessons, especially when practicing how trim and power changes can affect airplane control.
Derivation
Elevator refers to the movable horizontal control surface on the tail that pitches the nose up or down. Trim is a small adjustment system that holds the elevator in a set position so the pilot doesn't have to keep pushing or pulling. A stall happens when the wing exceeds its critical angle of attack and stops producing enough lift. Put together: a stall caused by leftover nose-up trim from the elevator trim setting.
Why Pilots Care
Demonstrates how improper trim can produce an unexpected pitch change that leads to an inadvertent stall during a go-around or missed approach.
Grounding Statement
Picture adding power while the trim is set nose-up: the airplane may immediately try to raise its nose more than you intended.
Intuition Check
Do not read “elevator” as a lift in a building; here it is the airplane control surface that changes nose position. Do not read “trim” as decoration; here it means an adjustment that changes the airplane’s tendency to pitch. Do not read “stall” as the engine stopping; here it means the wings are no longer producing normal smooth lift.
Example Sentence 1
During the lesson, the instructor demonstrated elevator trim stalls to show how aggressively the nose can pitch up during a go-around if the pilot doesn't push forward on the controls.
Example Sentence 2
Recognizing the risk, the pilot lowered the nose and reduced power immediately to prevent an elevator trim stall during the missed approach.