Prepare for: Systems and Equipment Malfunctions
Recognizing and handling failures like electrical loss, engine roughness, carburetor ice, door openings and stuck flaps.
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
- Fly the airplane first, then identify the problem using gauges and symptoms.
- Run the POH emergency or abnormal checklist for that system.
- Electrical failure: reduce load, use a handheld radio if available, land as soon as practical.
- Engine roughness: check carb heat (if equipped), mixture, fuel selector and magnetos.
- Decide where to land: as soon as possible, or as soon as practical.
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.C · Systems and Equipment Malfunctions
- Determine appropriate action for simulated emergencies specified by the evaluator, from at least three of the elements or sub-elements listed in K1 through K5.
- 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
- Read the POH Section 3 emergency procedures cover to cover.
- Know the electrical system layout (see the systems lesson).
Common mistakes
- Troubleshooting while losing control of altitude or heading.
- Not declaring an emergency when it's appropriate.
Questions to ask your instructor
- Which failures do you most want me to know cold?
- Can you give me a surprise failure on the next flight?
Related lessons
Check yourself
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