Downward spiral perhaps follows fix
I believe the answer is:
tailspin
'downward spiral perhaps' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.
'follows fix' is the wordplay.
'follows' becomes 'tails' (I've seen this before).
'fix' becomes 'pin' (pinning is a kind of fixing).
'tails'+'pin'='TAILSPIN'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for tailspin that I've seen before include "Alpinist (anag) -- state of panic" , "Spiral aeroplane dive" , "Spiral dive of aircraft in trouble" , "that could result in crash" , "confused state" .)