Definition
A propeller blade angle rotated past the flat (zero-thrust) position so that the blades bite into the air in the opposite direction, producing thrust that pushes the airplane backward instead of forward. Reverse pitch is used on turboprop and some piston aircraft to slow the airplane after landing or, in some cases, to back away from a parking position.
Plain English
The propeller blades are twisted the other way so they push air forward instead of pulling it back, which slows the airplane down or pushes it backward.
Context Anchor
Encountered in airplanes with reversible propellers, especially during landing rollout and ground operations.
Derivation
‘Reverse’ comes from the Latin reversus, meaning ‘turned back.’ ‘Pitch,’ in propeller terms, refers to the angle of the blade. So reverse pitch literally means the blade angle is turned the other way — past flat — so its effect is reversed.
Why Pilots Care
Allows significantly shorter landing rolls and improved directional control on wet or short runways.
Intuition Check
Do not read pitch here as the airplane’s nose-up or nose-down attitude. In reverse pitch, pitch means the angle of the propeller blades.
Example Sentence 1
After touchdown, the pilot lifted the power levers over the flight idle gate and selected reverse pitch to help slow the airplane on the short runway.
Example Sentence 2
Reverse pitch must be disengaged before taxi to prevent unintended reverse thrust on the ground.