“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 is a critical, unforgiving aviation emergency that requires rigorous training and continuous preparation, with emphasis on learning from real-world accident analyses.
- The most common causes include various forms of fuel mismanagement (e.g., incorrect calculations, tank selection errors) and carburetor icing, which can occur in a wide range of temperatures and humidity levels.
- Effective training involves pilots actively recognizing power loss symptoms through instrument scans (tachometer, altimeter) and consistently identifying potential emergency landing sites, as traditional training methods can sometimes create misconceptions.
Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->
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