Transcript Sport Pilot Training Program

Pre-Solo Training Module
Flight Briefing: Lesson 10
Emergency Procedures
In cooperation with Mid Island Air
Service, Inc. Brookhaven, NY
(Michael Bellenir, CFI)
Lesson 10 Objectives
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During this briefing, you will learn the procedures
for dealing with different emergencies, most
notably, engine failures. You will learn how to
cope with in-flight engine abnormalities, engine
failures, other system failures, and fires.
Upon completion of this briefing, you will
demonstrate proper response to various
simulated in-flight emergencies.
Flight Briefing: Lesson 10
Detecting Abnormalities
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It is rare for an emergency situation to arise
without any warning whatsoever. Learning
how to detect an abnormality before it
becomes an emergency is an important skill
that will help you enhance the safety of flight.
If you can detect and correct an abnormal
situation before it gets out of control and
becomes an emergency, you can take
corrective action to prevent an emergency.
Flight Briefing: Lesson 10
Emergency Prevention
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Obviously, the best way to avoid an emergency is to
actively do your best to prevent one.
Make sure you always do a complete and thorough
preflight inspection.
Always complete the proper flight planning.
Know your personal limitations and do not exceed
them.
Make an active effort to prevent complacency,
regardless of your experience.
Keep current on emergency procedures throughout
your flying career; practice them regularly and keep the
procedures fresh in your mind for all the aircraft you fly.
Flight Briefing: Lesson 10
Detecting Abnormalities
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Use all of your senses while you are flying.
At this point in your training you’ve learned
(perhaps subconsciously) how the airplane
sounds, feels, and even smells during normal
operations.
Any sense that is abnormal is cause for
further investigation.
Flight Briefing: Lesson 10
Investigating Abnormalities
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Once one of your senses detects an
abnormality, you can use your other senses
to help further identify the cause:
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An unusual smell will trigger your eyes to look for
the source, etc.
Check aircraft system gauges
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Fuel quantity and pressure, oil and engine temperatures,
oil pressure, electrical system output, circuit
breakers/fuses, etc.
Flight Briefing: Lesson 10
Aircraft System Abnormalities
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A problem with an aircraft system can range
from an insignificant malfunction to cause for
an immediate emergency landing.
It will not be possible to train you for every
possible circumstance.
Your emergency procedures training will
concentrate on emergency procedures for the
most serious emergencies, as well as the
decision making process that you will be able
to use in any situation.
Flight Briefing: Lesson 10
Emergency Procedures Training
In an emergency, you can do whatever is necessary to meet
the needs of the emergency.
FAA: 91.3 Responsibility and Authority of Pilot in Command
– 91.3(a) The pilot in command of an aircraft is directly responsible
for, and is the final authority as to, the operation of that aircraft.
– 91.3(b) In an in-flight emergency requiring immediate action, the
pilot in command may deviate from any rule of this part to the
extent required to meet that emergency.
– 91.3(c) Each pilot in command who deviates from a rule under
paragraph (b) of this section shall, upon the request of the
Administrator, send a written report of that deviation to the
Administrator.
Flight Briefing: Lesson 10
Engine Failures
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There are a variety of engine failures a pilot must
be prepared to handle. Though reliable, engines
can quit at any time or in any phase of flight. It
could be a sudden failure, or a gradual power
loss. The most critical failure is the sudden
failure at low altitude.
Regardless of engine failure type, the initial
procedure is the same: Pitch for best glide
speed, and trim to maintain best glide speed.
Flight Briefing: Lesson 10
Step 1: Best Glide Speed
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Best glide speed is the airspeed at which the lift
to drag ratio of the airplane is maximized.
In the SportStar, best glide occurs at 57 knots.
Best glide speed will provide you with two very
important things:
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Maximum range without power, which will give you the
most options for selecting an emergency landing site; and
Maximum time in the air, which will give you the most
available time to complete the engine failure procedure and
prepare for an emergency landing.
Flight Briefing: Lesson 10
Maximum Range
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To get the most range/time aloft out of the
airplane, it is important to not only maintain
best glide speed, but also to reduce the drag
on the airplane to a minimum.
– Close the canopy
– Retract the flaps
Flight Briefing: Lesson 10
Step 2: Emergency Landing Site
Selection
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Once best glide is established, you need to select a landing site and
start heading toward it.
Try to pick an area free of people and obstructions, with as much
space to land as possible. If several options appear to be available,
you want (best to worst):
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A runway, paved or grass
A field with short grass/vegetation or packed dirt
Open road with no traffic or obstructions
A field with medium-tall vegetation or plowed dirt
Sand
Water
Highway/median (traffic permitting only)
Trees
You never want to attempt an emergency landing in a populated
area. You are better off trying to land in tree tops than in a
neighborhood.
Flight Briefing: Lesson
10
Emergency Landing Site Selection
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If the engine failure occurs shortly after takeoff, time to
select an emergency landing field is extremely limited.
If time is not sufficient to select and maneuver to an
emergency landing field, the best course of options is to
continue straight ahead, maneuvering as necessary to
avoid large obstacles, and crash land under control.
Regardless of where you land, you are better off landing
under control than losing control while attempting to
aggressively maneuver around obstacles. Even if you
hit something, if impact is under control, the airplane
structure is designed to give you some protection. If you
impact out of control, the aircraft structure may not be
able to provide you enough impact protection.
Flight Briefing: Lesson 10
Emergency Landing Philosophy
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In the event of an emergency, you should by all
means consider the aircraft expendable. Your
task as pilot in command is to prevent or
minimize injuries to yourself, your passengers,
and those on the ground.
At this point, the insurance company already
owns the airplane. You have just borrowed it
from them. Don’t try to do them any favors by
attempting to save the airplane!
Flight Briefing: Lesson 10
Emergency Landing After Takeoff
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In some cases, it may be possible to make a 180 degree
turn back to the departure runway after takeoff if the
engine quits on climb out.
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Unless you are absolutely sure you have enough altitude to
accomplish the maneuver and land safely (500 ft. absolute
minimum), DO NOT ATTEMPT IT.
Turning around successfully at low altitude requires near perfect
flying technique; lower nose, medium bank.
Turning around requires more than 180 degrees of turn. You
have to do a 180, and then correct back to centerline, resulting in
approximately 270 degrees of turn.
If you do this, you are now landing with a tailwind. This
maneuver might not be possible on short runways.
Flight Briefing: Lesson 10
Emergency Landing After Takeoff
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Before you can consider a 180 degree turn back
to the runway, you must have practiced this
maneuver at altitude, and determined your exact
altitude loss.
Then, add about a 50% safety margin, to
account for the fact that it takes precious
seconds to recognize what has happened and
react.
If in doubt, land straight ahead.
Flight Briefing: Lesson 10
Gliding to Landing Site
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Once you’ve selected an emergency landing site,
turn toward it and trim the airplane to glide
toward it at best glide speed.
Start planning your approach to the landing site
considering wind, terrain, obstacles, and
approach paths.
Only after you’ve got the airplane heading toward
an emergency landing field and under control,
you can try to troubleshoot the problem.
Flight Briefing: Lesson 10
Trouble-Shooting/Engine Out Checklist
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The Engine Failure Checklist is designed to
be memorized so that you can accomplish it
quickly without needing to find it on paper.
The Flow: to help you memorize the checklist
items in addition to making trouble-shooting
faster, the items on the check list progress
sequentially in a path that you can easily
commit to memory. This is called a “flow.”
Flight Briefing: Lesson 10
What is a “Flow”?
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The word “Flow” is not an acronym. (It
doesn’t stand for anything.)
By Flow, we mean an orderly sequence of
events that is easy for you to remember and
follow. Most common is a spatial flow, where
your eyes (and hands) move systematically,
in a constant direction, from one item to the
next, in proper sequence.
Flight Briefing: Lesson 10
The “Flow” Emergency Checklist
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In the SportStar, for example, you can start the checklist at the fuel
selectors on the floor, working your way up and over to the left:
– Fuel Selector – switch tanks, or select BOTH if available
– Choke-OFF
– Throttle-SET (mid-range)
– Ignition Switches-CHECK ON BOTH
– Fuel Pump-ON
Then, Starter-If propeller has stopped completely, engage starter to
attempt a re-start. If the propeller is wind-milling, engaging the
starter is not necessary (theoretically. You can try anyway).
If the engine still does not restart, continue preparing for an
emergency landing. If time permits, leave the engine controls such
that the engine can restart if conditions allow.
Remember to maintain best glide airspeed during restart attempt.
Flight Briefing: Lesson 10
Attempting the Restart
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The “Flow” will help you restart the engine as soon as possible if
it is possible to restart the engine.
The engine may be difficult to restart at altitudes above 4,000
feet because of lower air pressure. If an attempted restart is
necessary above 4,000 feet, try at first with the choke off, if that
is not successful try different choke settings or wait until the
aircraft is below 4,000 feet.
If you start getting close to your emergency landing site and the
engine will not restart, secure the engine to minimize the chance
of a post-landing fire.
If there is an engine fire, fuel leak, or any circumstance you
determine will be unsafe to attempt a restart, do not
troubleshoot; go straight to the securing engine procedure.
Flight Briefing: Lesson 10
Securing the Engine
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To reduce chances of a post-landing fire or to attempt
to put out an in-flight fire, follow the engine securing
drill. The securing drill runs in the same “flow” as the
engine troubleshooting/restart checklist, except to
secure, turn equipment off instead of on.
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Fuel selector - OFF
Throttle-IDLE
Ignition switches - BOTH OFF
Fuel pump-OFF
Choke-OFF
Flight Briefing: Lesson 10
Preparing for Emergency Landing
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Once the engine is secure, prepare yourself,
passenger, and the airplane for the emergency
landing.
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Seats and seatbelts-Secure
Canopy-Closed and latched
Declare an emergency if possible
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On emergency frequency 121.50, or with any ATC facility.
“Mayday, mayday, mayday,” then give your position, the nature
of your emergency, and intentions. If possible, include the
number of people on board and fuel remaining in your
transmission.
Set transponder to the emergency code 7700, if time permits.
Flight Briefing: Lesson 10
Other Emergencies
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Fire
Electrical System Failure
VFR into IMC
Medical Emergency
Flight Control jam
Exact procedures vary between aircraft. Consult
your Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH) and
emergency checklists; discuss with your
instructor.
Flight Briefing: Lesson 10
In any emergency:
Remain calm (or best attempt)
 Keep aircraft under control
 Consult emergency procedures checklist
when possible
 In all cases, fly the airplane first!
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Flight Briefing: Lesson 10
Review Questions
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What senses should you employ in detecting abnormalities?
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At what altitude should you attempt to return to the runway if you experience an
engine failure on takeoff?
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What should you do if you are below that altitude?
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What is the name of the procedures you follow in the event of an engine failure in
flight?
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What speed should you establish in the event of an engine failure?
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What is your first responsibility in an emergency?
Write down your answers before
continuing to next slide
Flight Briefing: Lesson 10
Review Answers
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What senses should you employ in detecting abnormalities?
– All of them: sight, smell, sound, feel
At what altitude should you attempt to return to the runway if you experience an
engine failure on takeoff?
– Never less than 500 feet AGL
What should you do if you are below that altitude?
– Land straight ahead
What is the name of the procedures you follow in the event of an engine failure in
flight?
– Flow
What speed should you establish in the event of an engine failure?
– Best glide airspeed (57 knots in a SportStar)
What is your first responsibility in an emergency? Prevent or minimize injuries
Review any missed questions before
continuing to today’s flight.
Flight Briefing: Lesson 10
On Today’s Flight
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We will simulate engine failures at altitude (but
not shut down the engine).
You will establish best glide airspeed, select a
suitable emergency landing site, and set up an
approach to that site.
On the way to a simulated emergency landing,
you will walk through all the troubleshooting and
engine restart procedures.
Thanks to Mid Island Air Service, Inc.
Brookhaven, NY (Michael Bellenir, CFI) Flight
Briefing: Lesson 10