The Impossible Turn

This magazine often has discussed the so-called impossible turn: returning to the departure runway and landing downwind after an engine failure during takeoff. Our view of the impossible turn is that it is possible, but only with practice, sufficient altitude and some luck. Generally, executing a forced landing straight ahead is preferable to attempting a steeply banked turn at low altitude. This is especially true without engine power or sufficient airspeed above the wings stalling angle of attack to enable the steep turn.

Joseph E. (Jeb) Burnside

Wednesday, January 20, 2016 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The "impossible turn"—attempting to return to the departure runway after an engine failure during takeoff—is generally discouraged due to the rapid loss of altitude and airspeed, the complexity of the maneuver, and the high risk of a low-altitude stall/spin without sufficient power.
A fatal accident involving an experimental Sonex aircraft illustrates these dangers, where a pilot experiencing partial engine power loss due to an improperly repaired spark plug attempted a steep 180-degree turn back to the runway.
The NTSB determined the accident's probable cause was the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed after the partial engine power loss, leading to an aerodynamic stall and loss of control during the attempted turn, with the improper repair contributing to the power loss.

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This magazine often has discussed the so-called impossible turn: returning to the departure runway and landing downwind after an engine failure during takeoff. Our view of the impossible turn is that it is possible, but only with practice, sufficient altitude and some luck. Generally, executing a forced landing straight ahead is preferable to attempting a steeply banked turn at low altitude. This is especially true without engine power or sufficient airspeed above the wing’s stalling angle of attack to enable the steep turn.

One problem with trying to return to the departure runway in such an event is the inevitable delay in accepting the engine failure and making the decision to attempt the maneuver. Precious seconds and energy are lost while the pilot processes the situation and decides how to respond. By then, the airplane is even further away from the runway, and perhaps even lower and slower.