Recently, the AOPA Web site featured a video shot by Mooney pilot Dave Keller of an eventful takeoff. Unfortunately, the engine in Kellers Mooney failed shortly after liftoff on February 6, 2009. Fortunately for both the pilot and us, he had set up a video camera to record the flight. Equally fortunate, he was taking off from his home base, and was very familiar with the runway layout and the airplane. 288
Turning Back, Again
Recently, the AOPA Web site featured a video shot by Mooney pilot Dave Keller of an eventful takeoff. Unfortunately, the engine in Kellers Mooney failed shortly after liftoff on February 6, 2009. Fortunately for both the pilot and us, he had set up a video camera to record the flight. Equally fortunate, he was taking off from his home base, and was very familiar with the runway layout and the airplane. Keller turned back to the departure airport, where he managed to land, deadstick, on a different runway. He emerged uninjured and the airplane was undamaged. The video presentation is available online at http://tinyurl.com/yev96er.
Key Takeaways:
- A Mooney pilot, Dave Keller, successfully executed a deadstick turnback landing after an engine failure post-takeoff, an outcome attributed to his extensive experience and excellent airmanship.
- Despite this isolated success, the article strongly cautions against the high-risk "turnback maneuver" for engine failure after takeoff, as studies consistently show straight-ahead landings are a safer and more successful response.
- The incident underscores the critical importance of pilot experience, knowing vital airspeeds (e.g., best angle of climb, minimum descent rate), and immediate airmanship during emergencies.
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