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by Friday Morning Flight Plan at [date]
It has either happened to you, or you know someone who has gone through it: The engine sputters and quits on takeoff. If the airplane is high enough, you might be able to make it back to the field...might.
Either way, that's not exactly the time you want to find out whether or not you have a plan to handle the situation safely. Here are a few preparedness tips to consider should you ever be on the receiving end of a very intense few minutes.
Assume you will lose your engine on takeoff.
Know the terrain around your local field, and study the departure end of the unfamiliar runways (and the terrain around it) as you approach to land. When you depart, you'll at least have some idea of what's out there.
Conduct a departure briefing.
Consider failure while still over the runway, past it, and about 30-60 seconds past it.
Know your glide numbers.
- If you lose an engine at 500 AGL, you have about one minute at 500 feet per minute before touchdown at Vg.
- It takes 60 seconds in a standard rate turn to achieve a reverse course.
- At 75 knots, you need about an 11-degree bank. If you increase it nervously to 30-45 degrees, you'll reverse course faster but also descend faster due to a reduced vertical component of lift.
Keep all this in mind in an "impossible turn" scenario.
Remember that stall speed increases with bank.
No brainer here. If you whip the plane around and drop quickly, your instinct might be to pull the yoke back. Not a good idea at all. Expect the unexpected, and always have a plan or two because gravity never sleeps.
Learn how to do a full static run-up and lean until there's a slight drop.
Maximizing your engine's best possible power output is one of those little advantages that can become a big deal if your engine is deciding whether to keep sputtering or just completely give up the ghost. Besides, if you are ever flying out of a high-elevation airport, you'll want to know how to do this anyway. Be sure to consult your POH to make sure your leaning practices comply with the manufacturer's recommendations.