Flight Training - September 2019 - 28

PREFLIGHT CHECKRIDE

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BY BOB SCHMELZER

SIMULATED EMERGENCY
THE BIG CHALLENGE

OF THE MANY TASKS AND MANEUVERS

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you'll be required to demonstrate
during your practical test, the simulated
engine failure is arguably one of the
most challenging to successfully pull
off. The primary obstacle that makes
consistency difficult to achieve are the
many variables present when faced with
performing an engine failure procedure.
If there is one checkride maneuver that
demands good judgment, effective aeronautical decision making (ADM), and
rock-solid stick-and-rudder skills, it's the
engine-failure scenario.
Variables such as altitude available
when the engine fails, wind speed and
direction, landing field options and conditions, and position relative to the planned
landing site all affect what actions might
be required of the pilot to complete a safe
engine-out approach and landing. But
even though you'll have several variables
to deal with, by following a common,
consistent course of action for these scenarios, you'll maximize your chances of
reaching a safe and successful conclusion
to your simulated emergency approach to
a landing.
First, when the engine suddenly fails,
resist the urge to immediately try to
troubleshoot the problem in an attempt
to restart the engine. Instead, fly the
airplane! Adjust your pitch attitude to
obtain (and maintain) the best glide
speed. This will maximize the time you

JARGON

Best glide speed

have available to complete the remainder
of the problem. While you're doing this,
begin to analyze your available landing site options by looking outside-all
around you, not just off your left side or
in front of the airplane. You may have a
much better landing option off to your
right, or even just behind you-if only
you look for it. And don't forget to check
your nearest airport option by scanning
the GPS map display, if equipped, as
many airplanes are.
As you are searching for a preferred
landing site, be sure to keep the prevailing winds in mind since this will play a
huge role in not only your field selection,
but also how you will need to maneuver
to the subsequent landing. Lack of awareness of the winds presents a big common
error that leads to applicants' inability
to select and then effectively maneuver
to the ill-chosen field. Once you have
located an adequate landing site, begin
to maneuver toward it, keeping in mind
where you'll need the airplane to be positioned for the final 1,000 feet of descent
toward the field. This location is referred
to as the "key position," and is typically
directly abeam of the planned touchdown point on the landing site-exactly
where you normally would begin your
descent for landing from the downwind
leg at the airport.
While you are maneuvering to
the key position, you now have some

This airspeed-usually between VX and VY-allows you
to maximize your glide range in the event of a loss of
engine power. But it's not just one number: Manufacturers that publish best glide speed usually publish the
speed for maximum gross weight, and a lightly loaded
airplane will need to fly a bit slower to go as far. Best
glide gives you the farthest distance in no wind; with a
tailwind, the speed to fly will be slower, and faster for
a headwind.

28 FLIGHT TRAINING SEPTEMBER 2019

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Flight Training - September 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Flight Training - September 2019