From Denial To Final, II

There you are, droning along in cruise. Suddenly, theres a vibration, then a power surge, then combustion ends...and youre flying a glider. For a moment you hesitate-no one is immune from at least a split-second of indecision, most of us much longer-and then you realize you have an engine failure. You maintain control, point the aircraft in the direction of a place to land, then confirm the failure. If you have time and altitude you can try to restart the engine, but if the failure is catastrophic youll quickly find theres nothing you can do to fix the engine from the pilots seat. You are committed to a glide and a power-off landing.

Key Takeaways:

• In an engine failure, maintain control and aim for your aircraft's "best glide" speed, understanding that actual optimal speed decreases with lighter weight but the published speed is a reliable target.
• Maximize glide performance by minimizing drag through proper configuration, including retracting flaps and gear, closing cowl flaps, and crucially, setting controllable-pitch propellers to minimum RPM.
• Select an emergency landing site using navigation or visual assessment, prioritizing clear areas free of hazards, then transition from best glide to least rate of descent speed on final approach, preparing the cabin and aircraft for impact.

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