Can large aircraft be spin-susceptible?

[Rhys S. Negative]

I read in a recent thread elsewhere that a Bristol Britannia entered, and was recovered from, a spin during stall testing. I also recall the loss of a DHC-7 on a test flight, which I believe resulted from an inadvertent stall with asymmetric power leading to a spin.

However, many other airliners have undergone stall tests, without the installation of devices such as spin recovery chutes, which prompts my question: are such aircraft generally spin-resistant, perhaps due to the inherent inertias; alternatively, what techniques are used to minimise the risk of entering a spin?

Awaiting your replies with interest,

RSN.

[Mad (Flt) Scientist]

However, many other airliners have undergone stall tests, without the installation of devices such as spin recovery chutes

Guess it depends what you mean by "airliners" but it's certainly our practice (Bombardier) to conduct all initial stall tests (at a minimum) with a recovery chute system installed and operational. It's more a concern regarding deep stall potential of the T-tail configuration than a concern for spinning, though.

In terms of ensuring you don't inadvertently spin, the usual considerations of building up towards the stall (to enable any anomalies in lat/dir characteristics to hopefully be spotted), and ensuring the stalls are pretty much 'straight', would be general advice.

[The Nr Fairy]

The AAIB reported on the DHC-7 accident in 1999 - the report is available here.