I was providing flight instruction toward a commercial rating with a student whom I had recently helped obtain her instrument rating. We were flying my own Cessna Cardinal RG, and we had already flown together a great deal. In fact, she actually handled the airplane better than I did in most cases, especially landings. Because she was getting close to the check ride, every takeoff and landing was either a simulated soft field or maximum performance one, since those would be check ride items.
Loss of Power on Takeoff
Key Takeaways:
- During a maximum-performance takeoff, an instructor and student experienced an apparent engine failure at a critical low altitude in their Cessna Cardinal RG.
- The student's immediate, pre-briefed action—a hard push forward on the yoke to counteract the loss of thrust vector—was crucial in preventing an immediate stall and allowing for a safe emergency landing.
- The instructor successfully landed the aircraft back on the runway, emphasizing the importance of quick, decisive action, constant readiness, and thorough pre-flight emergency briefings.
- The incident reinforced the instructor's commitment to never being relaxed during critical phases of flight, with hands and feet always ready on the controls, and highlighted the value of recent safety articles and briefings.
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