KPMD Pilot Initial Qualification Exercise Practice Test 2026 - Free Pilot Qualification Practice Questions and Study Guide

When trim movement becomes uncontrolled, the immediate priority is to arrest the motion with a direct mechanical override. Grasping the manual trim wheel quickly and firmly provides a positive, physical resistance to the trim motor, effectively stopping the stabilizer from moving even if the electric cutout isn’t functioning. This hand-overhand control is the most reliable way to halt motion in a runaway trim situation because it doesn’t depend on electrical systems or switches.

Other actions aren’t as immediate or effective in this moment. A circuit breaker pull might stop power to the motor, but it can be slow to access and may not guarantee an instantaneous stop if backfeed or other circuits are involved. Using the yoke trim switch or disengaging the autopilot doesn’t give you a direct mechanical stop to the ongoing motion, so they’re not as reliable for halting a runaway trim.