← All explained questions · Supplemental · VIII — Basic Instrument Maneuvers

When recovering from an unusual attitude, the PRIMARY instrument the pilot should reference is

Choices

altimeter.
Altimeter shows altitude trend but not attitude.
✓ the attitude indicator (if functional).correct
confirms current attitude and guides the recovery sequence. Cross-check with airspeed (high/low?) and altimeter (climbing/descending?) for situational awareness. Unusual attitude recovery starts with the AI. Recognize the attitude (nose-high or nose-low, banked which way), then execute the standard recovery sequence (nose-high: power-down, nose-down, level wings; nose-low: power-down, level wings, smoothly raise nose). Cross-check airspeed (over Vne?) and altitude (gaining/losing).
magnetic compass.
Compass is unreliable in any maneuver.
VSI.
VSI lags too much to drive recovery decisions.

Why

confirms current attitude and guides the recovery sequence. Cross-check with airspeed (high/low?) and altimeter (climbing/descending?) for situational awareness. Unusual attitude recovery starts with the AI. Recognize the attitude (nose-high or nose-low, banked which way), then execute the standard recovery sequence (nose-high: power-down, nose-down, level wings; nose-low: power-down, level wings, smoothly raise nose). Cross-check airspeed (over Vne?) and altitude (gaining/losing).

FAA source: AFH Ch 16, PHAK Ch 8; AFH Chapter 16 — Emergency Proceduresbrowse the reference library →

Covered in Supplemental · VIII — Basic Instrument Maneuvers — study the lessons free, then practice with grading and mastery tracking.

Original study question written for this course — representative of FAA knowledge-test topics, not an actual current FAA exam question.