Definition
The fourth and final stage of a spin, in which deliberate control inputs by the pilot break the autorotation, stop the rotation, and return the airplane to normal unstalled flight. It begins when recovery inputs are applied and ends when rotation has stopped and the wings are no longer stalled.
Plain English
The part of a spin where the pilot uses the controls to stop the spin and get the airplane flying normally again.
Context Anchor
You see this term when learning the stages of a spin and the correct sequence for recovering from one.
Derivation
Recovery comes from words meaning to get back or regain. Phase means a stage or part of a process. Together, recovery phase means the stage where the airplane is being regained from the spin and returned to controlled flight.
Why Pilots Care
Correct timing and execution during the recovery phase determine how much altitude is lost and whether control is successfully restored before the airplane reaches the ground.
Analogy
Like steering into a skid and then straightening the wheel once the car stops sliding on ice; you must deliberately apply the right inputs to end the unwanted motion.
Grounding Statement
In this phase, the airplane has stopped spinning, but the pilot still has to finish the recovery smoothly and under control.
Intuition Check
Do not think of recovery phase as simply “everything is fine again.” In spin training, it means the specific stage after the spin is stopped but before the airplane is fully returned to normal flight.
Example Sentence 1
During the recovery phase, the pilot applied opposite rudder and forward elevator to stop the rotation and break the stall.
Example Sentence 2
After the spin stopped, the pilot continued the recovery phase by neutralizing the rudder and gently raising the nose to level flight.