During an inadvertent departure from controlled flight, what should be the first action?

In the event of an inadvertent departure from controlled flight, the first action should be to adjust the Power Control Lever (PCL) to idle. This step is crucial because reducing power helps to decrease the aircraft's angle of attack, which can assist in regaining control of the aircraft. When an aircraft departs from controlled flight, it typically enters a state where aerodynamic control surfaces may be ineffective, and reducing thrust can stabilize the flight and promote recovery.

Bringing the power to idle reduces the excess lift produced by the wings, which is particularly important as too much lift can keep the aircraft in an uncontrollable attitude. This initial action is foundational to initiating recovery protocols, preventing further exacerbation of the flight situation, and allowing the pilot to focus on regaining control of the aircraft.

Other options, while they may be part of recovery or awareness processes, do not serve as the immediate first step to regain control effectively. Checking altitude could provide useful situational awareness, but it does not directly contribute to recovery at that critical moment. Meanwhile, controlling forces to full forward or executing a roll may introduce more complications rather than stabilize the situation. Thus, initiating recovery by setting the PCL to idle is the most effective initial response for safely addressing an inadvertent