What They Don't Teach You in Flight Training - In-flight Emergencies

The worst possible scenario for a pilot would have to be a forced landing. Hypothetically if all engines were to unexpectedly fail whether due to some catastrophe or pilot-induced failure like fuel starvation or exhaustion, it is in the pilots hands to make the landing as survivable as possible.

Based on an article by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, I have collected a few tips and points to remember if you ever find yourself in an in-flight emergency situation. This is the real stuff you hear about during flight training, but hopefully you’ll never have to experience it.

Actually, after engine failure, your chances of surviving a forced landing are pretty good. According to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, only 5.2 percent of forced landings result in pilot fatality. Also, 69 percent of crashes resulted in no injury at all.

The most important thing to remember in an emergency situation is: don’t panic. Pilots are trained to be steady and level-headed. Having a rational sense of control in an emergency situation will be your best ally. It’s not like any scenario you’ve ever practiced during flight training, it’s real. The danger is real.

The Best Glide Speed

In your efforts to understand why the engine quit, you’re losing very valuable time. The best glide speed will be on the emergency checklist in your pilot’s operating handbook. Remember - do not climb! If the aircraft has already slowed to the optimum glide speed, you’ll be wasting precious energy by climbing and trying to buy more time. If you don’t know the best glide speed, it is usually very close to the rate-of-climb airspeed.

Locate the nearest airport

Use a GPS (if available) to locate the nearest airport, it will give you the bearing and the distance to the airport. Some even provide the orientation and length of the longest runway. Hopefully there is one within gliding distance, but often times there aren’t.
Also, pay attention to the wind, if you had been beating against a 20-knot headwind before the engine quit, your best bet might be the airport behind you. Just keep in mind you will have to turn back into the wind for the slowest possible touchdown

What do I do with the Landing Gear?

Whether you leave the gears up or down is totally dependent upon the terrain you’ll be landing on. If the terrain is friendly, open, or smooth, it might be best to put the gears down. If the terrain looks rough or even questionable, leave the gear up. If you put the gears down and the aircraft hits mud, it will flip onto its back lessening the chance of survival. Be aware that if a landing gear is torn off a low-wing aircraft, it could take a fuel tank with it increasing the chance of fire.