In June 1949, the FAA removed the requirement to perform spins during private pilot checkrides. However, satisfactory knowledge of spin theory and recovery procedures still is required, and special emphasis is placed on spin awareness during checkrides.
Since performing spins is not required, the closest you should come to one should be during the oral exam. The discussion should cover aerodynamics, awareness of where unintentional spins are most likely to occur, and recovery procedures.
The elements of this brief discussion can be found in the FAA Airplane Flying Handbook and Advisory Circular AC 61-67C. There you will learn that a spin is really an aggravated (uncoordinated) stalled condition that results in the airplane falling while rotating (spiraling) about a vertical axis. These documents emphasize spin awareness and avoidance. In theory, if you know what causes spins, you’ll be able to avoid them. By practicing stalls often, you’ll remain acutely aware of when a stall condition is approaching. Therefore, logically, you’ll avoid spins. Also, immediately applying opposite rudder to offset any yawing or rolling condition during a stall entry is critical to preventing an uncoordinated stall from developing into a spin.
Be aware that the riskiest unintentional spins occur close to the ground, while taking off or landing. A loss of power on takeoff and subsequent failure to maintain proper glide speed—or a botched attempt to turn back to the airport—are common scenarios. While landing, overshooting the final approach and skidding the turn to final is another high-risk area. Spins at these low altitudes usually render even proper recovery attempts futile.
The typical spin recovery procedure is easy to remember using the acronym PARE: Power—idle; Aileron—neutral; Rudder—full opposite spin rotation; Elevator—forward to break the stall. All that remains is to neutralize the rudder once rotation stops and recover from the resulting nose-low attitude, being careful to pull up aggressively enough to prevent an excessive airspeed, but gently enough to avoid high G loads or a secondary stall. Some aircraft have specific recovery procedures that may vary from the above, so be familiar with your aircraft’s requirements.
That said, just about all designated pilot examiners have witnessed a spin during a checkride from which the applicant was unable to recover—even though he or she was prepared to discuss spins during the oral exam. Although most private pilot applicants have never experienced an actual spin by the time they take their checkride, they are still, somehow, expected to have obtained the skills and knowledge necessary to avoid and/or recover from this most basic of flight maneuvers. It seems a bit like trying to learn crosswind landings by only reading about or discussing them, but never actually seeing or accomplishing one. How effective would that be?
Only flight instructor applicants are required to accomplish spin training in the airplane before the checkride. When unintentional spins occur during private pilot checkrides, applicants typically are so startled that any previous training is of little use. The DPEs, however, recover easily because they clearly saw the spin coming. All pilots need this type of awareness. While it might be possible to learn to avoid spins altogether through proper and frequent practice of stalls, sometimes just a little distraction is all it takes to slide through that fragile barrier that separates stalls from spins. At that point, all the book learning in the world may not be enough.
So, what can you do? Locate a seasoned CFI willing to spend a good session (or three) on spin training. Better yet, find a flight school that offers spin recovery and upset training, emphasizing the many scenarios that can lead to unintentional spins. Even though spins fit the definition of aerobatic maneuvers, the FAA does not require wearing parachutes when receiving spin training from a CFI for the purposes of flight training. Just make sure the airplane you are using is approved for spins and that you are operating it within specified limitations.
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