Which component is critical for recovering from a stall?

Maintaining adequate airspeed is critical for recovering from a stall because a stall occurs when the aircraft exceeds its critical angle of attack, resulting in a loss of lift. To recover from a stall, the pilot must decrease the angle of attack and regain sufficient airspeed to restore normal lift. This is typically achieved by lowering the nose of the aircraft to increase airflow over the wings, which helps to rebuild lift.

The recovery process emphasizes the need to control airspeed effectively; once the aircraft regains the proper speed, it can be maneuvered back to stable flight. While other aspects of flight can contribute to recovery, such as decreasing flaps or managing engine power, the priority in stall recovery is to ensure that sufficient airspeed is achieved to restore lift and regain control.