Definition
The procedure of regaining controlled flight using only the instruments that remain functional after one or more primary flight instruments have failed. It typically involves cross-checking the working instruments to re-establish straight-and-level flight, then returning to a safe attitude, altitude, and heading without reference to the failed instrument(s).
Plain English
Getting the airplane back under control when some of your instruments have stopped working, by flying with the ones that still work.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument flying and instrument training after a pitot/static system problem, when airspeed, altitude, or climb-and-descent information may be wrong or unavailable.
Derivation
Partial panel' means part of the instrument panel — the working part. 'Recovery' is the act of returning the aircraft to controlled, stable flight. Together: recovering the aircraft using only the part of the panel that still works.
Why Pilots Care
Correct partial panel recovery prevents spatial disorientation and loss of control in instrument meteorological conditions when primary gyros are unavailable.
Grounding Statement
The key idea is to fly the airplane using the information that is still reliable, not the instrument display you wish you still had.
Intuition Check
Partial panel does not mean part of the physical instrument panel has come loose. It means only part of the normal instrument information is usable.
Example Sentence 1
When the attitude indicator failed in cloud, the pilot performed a partial panel recovery using the turn coordinator, airspeed indicator, and altimeter to level the wings and stabilize altitude.
Example Sentence 2
During the checkride the examiner covered the attitude indicator and the pilot demonstrated partial panel recovery from a nose-low unusual attitude.