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4 Answers

Emergency Descents

Asked by: 220 views Flight Instructor

While brushing up on emergency descents, from all resources (textbook, POH, YouTube, online ground schools), I can’t seem to find anything documented or at least favored when it comes to performing such maneuver at either a constant bank of 30-45 degrees in the form of a spiral, the descending turns from left to right while maintaining a constant airspeed, or a straight dive (for lack of better term) down to the deck at a constant speed. I recognize that the nature of the emergency has a factor (engine fire, wing fire, cabin smoke). However, I have yet to find any cited references, even from the FAA airplane flying handbook, that dictates the course the maneuver (spirals, left to right, or dive). Am I digging too deep in this? Is this just a case by case? Or someone’s (or CFI’s) go-to preference? Any and all views and opinions would be helpful! 

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4 Answers



  1. Mark Kolber on Jan 14, 2025

    I’m not sure I understand the question, I think

    “ Use bank angle between 30° and 45° to maintain positive load factors during the descent.”

    In the ACS is pretty clear, even if the AFH only talks about it iin terms of the initiation of the maneuver.

    In terms of preference, I think most CFIs and Examiners will look at it as a spiral down over a point for various reasons including the need to watch for traffic below. Many will do it ivermectin a runway to watch it convert to a power off landing,

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  2. John D Collins on Jan 14, 2025

    The Bonanza has a POH emergency descent procedure that works very well and does not involve banking the aircraft. My point is that the emergency descent procedure may be aircraft specific. Different models of Bonanza have variations, but they all involve lowering the landing gear and descending at the maximum gear extension speed. In my Bonanza, this gives about 6000 feet per minute.

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  3. Boxrdan on Jan 15, 2025

    I understand the purpose of the bank angle to prevent/assist with wing loading during a descent. The ACS and AFH both state that said bank angle should be between 30-45 degrees, however there is no specific mention on whether the pilot should maintain a constant bank angle during a spiral, or a left turn at 30-45 degrees then turn right at 30-45 and so on… or dive down at a controlled constant rate.

    I guess my disconnect is this… if there is no specific direction or dictation as to how to perform the maneuver (other than at between 30-45 degrees), then how did those 3 listed maneuvers come to light? And how do those still have traction while researching emergency descents today if they are not listed in any FAA approved book or guide? If anyone has a source or reference that expands upon those 3 choices I can dig into I would greatly appreciate it… if not, any insight would be helpful so I can have a better handle on what the majority of FI’s are instructing and why? I thank you all your patience!

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  4. KDS on Jan 16, 2025

    Where emergency descents are critical is more in type rated aircraft and others operating at high altitude, which fits in with what John wrote about the Bonanza having a specified procedure. What I’ve picked up from formal courses is that putting the bank in before lowering the pitch is important lest the aircraft might be overstressed in a negative G maneuver or an overspeed. Of course, pulling the power is there as a first step along with donning the oxygen mask if it is a depressurization emergency. The idea is to get off of the airway under the assumption that you would be on an IFR clearance and there are a lot of others on the same track at lower altitudes. I’ve seen procedures to do a 90-degree turn followed by a series of S turns, which makes sense if you want to get away from the airway.

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