Emergency Procedures
We will now introduce you to emergency engine out procedures in a single-engine airplane.
Most common cause of single engine accidents is engine failure. Most common cause of engine failure is fuel exhaustion. Sad, but true.
Above all, remember: If your engine quits, you still have an airplane. FLY IT! If you fly the airplane all the way into the ground (or even into the "crash" as Bob Hoover says), you have a high probability of a good outcome (surviving).
Fatality rates after engine failure:
- Day - 15%
- Night - 35%
- Night & IFR - 85%
Pilot Actions
- A - Airspeed (establish best glide speed)
- B - Best place to land
- Your priorities, in this order - People on the ground. People in the airplane. Property on the ground. The Airplane.
- Some factors in judging good landing spots: wind, animals, fences, power lines, farming rows, roads, etc
- C - Communicate (declare an emergency with ATC or on 121.5, squawk 7700, etc)
We will also discuss the possibility of engine failure on takeoff and important of pre-takeoff briefing.
Fix or Secure
If time (altitude) permits, we should follow the AFM checklist for attempting a restart in flight. Usually it goes something like this:
- Mixture, throttle, prop all forward
- Fuel - switch tanks, check fuel valve. If you switch tanks, leave it!
- Mags - try left, then right, then both.
If none of that leads to a successful engine restart, then follow the AFM checklist to secure the engine for landing. A typical checklist looks something likt this:
- Pull prop, mixture, and throttle full aft
- Fuel valve OFF
- Mags OFF
- Master OFF
Common Mistakes
- Excessive back pressure during steep turns to right
- Failure to maintain airspeed
- Failure to use checklists during emergency
- Improper landing site choice
Student Objections
Student exhibits good ADM during simulated engine out procedures and above all maintains airspeed at a safe level.
- Emergency Procedures
- Maintains airspeed +/- 10 knots
- Selects suitable landing site
- Follows appropriate checklist