Flight Training - June 2014 - 20

FLIGHT LESSON

By B.K. Power
FLIGHT LESSON offers the
opportunity for pilots to learn
from the experiences of others.

I was at 800 feet. I finally reached pattern
altitude abeam the numbers, and it was
time to descend. I pulled the throttle to
idle, and the engine sputtered. Ugh!
Now what? I put on the carb heat. That
didn't solve the problem, so I immediately
turned base for a short final approach.
Now I was high, so I slipped the airplane
while turning final. I could sense the feeling of speed as I got closer to the ground,
but perception and perspective can play
tricks on an inexperienced night flier. I
glanced at the airspeed, and I was indeed
going too fast. In the fog of anxiety, I had
neglected to add flaps.
Already a quarter of the way down the
runway and uncertain about the landing
roll needed at that speed, the float I might
encounter if I added flaps, and the distance
to hold it off, I pushed the throttle full
n a hot Texas summer evening, my sole intention was to
forward. With the engine still working, I
practice night landings in my Piper Archer. I am a 45-yeardecided a go-around would be better than
old mom and a low-time pilot, having just earned my private an extremely botched landing in a slight
pilot certificate several months ago.
crosswind. This time the airplane climbed
normally, but the engine sounds worsened
As I taxied to Runway 14 at Pearland
rolled down the runway, and rotated.
while turning crosswind. The oil pressure
Regional Airport (LVJ), I had a standoff
From that point on, things were far from
had dropped into the yellow arc, and I
with opposing traffic on a narrow section
usual. I wasn't able to climb above 300
smelled a faint whiff of burning oil.
of taxiway. I pulled onto a small paved
feet before the stall light flickered and
I focused on flying the airplane and
area to let him pass. This necessitated a
then became a steady glow. At night that
making a normal landing, which I did.
push-back and restart. Then, immediately red light is bold, and at a low altitude it is
Upon making my call that I was clear of
after my announcement and crossing Run- a terrifying sight. My heart rate rapidly
Runway 14, I cleaned up the airplane.
way 14 at Delta, a helicopter made a call
increased. I wanted desperately to pull
Flaps up: check. Transponder to standby:
that he was landing on the departure end
back on the yoke. But I could hear my
check. Fuel pump off: check. Mixture
of Runway 14. In the dark it appeared he
instructor's voice in my head, saying
lean: already done!
was heading right for me on the taxiway. I Better get the nose down. I immediately
It wasn't until 4 a.m. that I realized
stopped to make sure his call matched his pushed the nose down, but the light kept
what had happened. Suddenly I could
intentions. At the hold-short line, when
flickering. I scanned my gauges. Nothing
see, clear as day, the red mixture knob
I attempted to set the heading indicator,
was obvious. What was happening?
in the lean position. With all the distracI discovered the magnetic compass light
I flew farther out on the upwind leg
tions prior to takeoff, I had gotten out
was out. I turned on the red cabin light,
attempting to build airspeed. After strug- of my routine. I didn't look at my few
set the heading indicator, and proceeded
gling to 400 feet and with the engine
"after cleared onto runway" checklist
with the runup. I did my final checks,
apparently running fine at that point, I
items again before the takeoff roll. I had
pushed the mixture rich, and was ready to turned crosswind, thinking I'm sure there forgotten to put the mixture full rich and
roll. Or so I thought.
have been worse things than remaining in
therefore was starving the airplane.
I no longer had panel lights. Still at the
the traffic pattern at 400 feet. As I turned
The moral of this story is akin to Santa
hold-short line, I switched the transpondownwind, the airspeed began to increase, Claus. Make a list and check it twice.
der to standby, turned the fuel pump off,
so I initiated a shallow climb. By midfield Heck, check it three times.
leaned the mixture, and began to troubleshoot. Apparently I had inadvertently
PLUS Hear a Real Pilot Story about an engine loss at night
over the Pennsylvania mountains.
dimmed the panel lights. I throttled up,

CONFUSION IN THE
DARKNESS

A FLICKERING LIGHT AND A ROUGH ENGINE

FLIGHTTRAINING.AOPA.ORG

SARAH HANSON

20 /

http://flash.aopa.org/asf/pilotstories/enginefailurenight/ http://FLIGHTTRAINING.AOPA.ORG

Flight Training - June 2014

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