ENGINE FAILURES — SEP(A)
According to the NTSB and FAA, 150–200 accidents per year are due to power loss. Roughly a quarter of these are fatal, making this the 2nd leading cause of fatal aviation accidents after ‘loss of control in flight.
Pilots must be ready to cope with engine failures at any point when operating an aircraft. The 1st thing you want to do as pilot in command when an engine fails is to AVIATE. Do not let your engine-out situation lead to loss of control.
Then follow A B C D E F.
- A — Airspeed
- B — Best place to land
- C — Checklist
- D — Distress call
- E — Engine secure
- F — Fly approach
AIRSPEED
First of all, we must pitch to the Best Glide Speed to maximise our range. By maintaining ‘Vmd’ we gain more distance and time in the air to setup for a landing, complete checklists and possibly attempt to restart the failed engine.
Pro tip: trim the airplane to free up capacity and focus on what’s next.
BEST PLACE TO LAND
While flying at Vmd we start looking for a suitable landing spot. A field can be a good option, but exercise caution for power lines, trenches, etc. If flying in a congested area, choose a landing area away from buildings and people. Once you picked a spot, do a normal traffic pattern for approach and land into the wind if possible.
CHECKLIST
We are now flying at Vmd and headed towards a suitable field. Let’s attempt to restart the failed engine. Check airplane POH for engine restart procedure.
CAUTION!
There are scenarios in which an engine restart SHOULD NOT BE attempted.
- Low oil pressure
- Visible leaks
- Engine fire
- Loud bang
- Vibrations
- Volcanic ash
- Catastrophic failure
DISTRESS CALL
A MAYDAY radio call should be reserved for life threatening situations, such as loss of control for a number of reasons including engine failure leading to a forced landing.
Before calling, remember to aviate, navigate and communicate.
Be in control of your airplane and fly towards the landing site at your best glide speed before talking to ATC. Squawk 7700 to gain ATC attention.
Start with “MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY”. State your callsign, your approximate location and intention.
ENGINE SECURE
Secure the engine by isolating the aircraft’s fuel and electrical system, and so eliminating chances of electrical sparks which may lead to fire. Thus, in the event of a fire our fuel won’t ignite!
FLY APPROACH
Configure your airplane for landing. Ensure all on board are buckled in tightly, instructed how and when to brace for landing, and ready to evacuate the aircraft after bringing it to a stop. Aim to touchdown as slowly as possible.
Stay calm, follow procedures and never stop flying!
