Prepare for: Engine Failure and Emergency Approach
What to do in the first seconds after an engine failure, and how to plan a glide to a safe landing.
Your CFI's syllabus and your airplane's POH come first. This page is a general study aid to help you show up prepared.
What you'll do
- Airspeed: pitch for best glide immediately and trim.
- Best field: pick a landing site within gliding distance, considering wind, terrain and obstacles.
- Checklist: try to restart (fuel selector, mixture, carb heat, mags) per the POH if altitude allows.
- Declare: 121.5 MHz or the frequency you're on, squawk 7700, brief passengers.
- Execute: fly a pattern to your field, configure per the POH, and secure the engine before landing.
The standard you'll be held to
Quoted from the current FAA Airman Certification Standards for each level that tests this.
Private Pilot ACS (FAA-S-ACS-6C)Task PA.IX.B · Emergency Approach and Landing (Simulated) (ASEL, ASES)
- Establish and maintain the recommended best glide airspeed, ±10 knots.
- Configure the airplane in accordance with the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH)\Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) and existing conditions.
- Select a suitable landing area considering altitude, wind, terrain, obstructions, and available glide distance.
- Plan and follow a flightpath to the selected landing area considering altitude, wind, terrain, and obstructions.
- Prepare for landing as specified by the evaluator.
- Complete the appropriate checklist(s).
Read it in the FAA handbooks
The official chapters behind this page. Each link opens the exact chapter, free on faa.gov. See the full Study Library.
Prepare the night before
- Memorize best glide speed and the POH engine-failure flow.
- Practice picking fields while driving or flying.
Common mistakes
- Holding the nose up to 'stretch' the glide (you'll lose airspeed and distance).
- Changing fields too late.
- Spending too long troubleshooting at low altitude.
Questions to ask your instructor
- When will you pull the power for practice?
- How do you want me to handle the restart flow?
Related lessons
Check yourself
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