“My airplane.”
I was only five hours into my private pilot training when Dutch, my CFI, gave this command.
How Pilots Can Prepare for Unexpected Power Loss
Here's a review of the correct response and how to avoid common mistakes in an engine-out situation.
![Often pilots seem to misunderstand what is happening when the engine fails. [Credit: Meg Godlewski]](https://www.flyingmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/FLY0126_1.3-In-Training-scaled.jpeg)
Key Takeaways:
- Engine power loss, though rare, is a critical and unforgiving aviation emergency often caused by fuel mismanagement or carburetor icing, which can occur even in mild, humid conditions.
- Pilots frequently struggle to correctly recognize engine power loss, sometimes misinterpreting symptoms or fixating on terrain instead of troubleshooting and monitoring vital instruments like the tachometer and altimeter.
- Effective preparation requires learning from accident debriefs and NTSB reports, coupled with scenario-based training, to develop prompt and correct responses and consistently identify potential landing sites.
Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->
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