You are on a large vessel fitted with a right-handed controllable-pitch propeller. When making large speed changes while decreasing pitch, which statement is TRUE?

Correct Answer: Option A — You may lose rudder control until the ship's speed has dropped to correspond to propeller speed.

Controllable-pitch propellers maintain constant RPM while changing blade pitch. When rapidly decreasing pitch from ahead to astern, the vessel's momentum keeps it moving forward while the propeller wash is reduced or reversed. This creates a 'dead zone' where water flow over the rudder is insufficient for effective steering control.