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7 Answers

Forced landings PPL student

Asked by: 3723 views , , , ,
Flight Instructor, Private Pilot

As an instructor what potential risks do you face when teaching a new student a forced approach? A lot of risk is attached to this exercise due to the low altitude you reach and the lack of time to correct for mistakes. Also you are intentionally cutting the power to a single engine aircraft.. Which does not come with its own risks, especially on colder days. The urgency of the situation may stress students and negatively impact their performance leading to them reacting in a way they normally wouldn't and potentially stalling the aircraft or any other dangerous situation. 

How does an instructor mitigate these risks? Of course knowing when to step in is probably the most crucial way to minimize the threats but does knowledge also play a key factor? This exercise is influenced by wind, temperature and geographic location to name a few and without understanding these factors and their impact there is a greater risk for error.. Right?

 

Would appreciate any feedback or opinions.. Students and instructors 

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7 Answers



  1. Josh on Apr 06, 2017

    While training for my PPL, landings were by far the trickiest part. (Until I learned the concept of staring down the runway) and many times I would abort and do a go around, my instructor always praised me for that. While a forced landing is a stress you should go through for adequate training, it’s something that should be well explained and prepared for. I wouldn’t have done that until my 28-30th hour of training, but it’s all on where the students profiencey is I guess

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  2. Kris Kortokrax on Apr 06, 2017

    Are you an instructor or a student?

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  3. Flygirl on Apr 06, 2017

    I am a student Kris 🙂

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  4. Best Answer


    Kris Kortokrax on Apr 06, 2017

    From your previous question, I kind of figured that. Your instructor should introduce maneuvers like this gradually. They should never be sprung on you all at once with no preparation.

    For instance, when I introduce simulated engine failures in a helicopter, we first cover the maneuver and procedures on the ground. Then in flight, I tell the student in advance that we are going to practice the maneuver. I then perform a countdown before rolling off the throttle. In this manner, the student can anticipate what is going to happen and notice how the aircraft reacts when the power is lost.

    As time moves on and the student becomes proficient, then comes the time for unannounced engine failures.

    Same thing with an airplane. We go to altitude after briefing the maneuver on the ground. When the engine failure is initiated, we go through the checklist items for engine failure. Troubleshoot the engine (fuel tank, fuel pump, mixture, carb heat, etc), find a place to go and head towards it while slowing to best glide speed and trimming, communication procedures. Normally, if performing the maneuver away from an airport, we would terminate the maneuver no lower than 500′ AGL.

    If we practice the maneuver near an airport, we can continue to the runway.

    If you have concerns, you should discuss them with your instructor. All your questions should be answered before you go fly. You may come up with other questions as a result of the flight and these should be addressed in the post flight debrief.

    Rest assured that your instructor values his own life as much as yours and will not expose you to any undue risk. Again, if you feel that there is some unwarranted risk, discuss it with your instructor. If you get no satisfaction from that discussion, elevate the discussion to the owner of the flight school.

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  5. Flygirl on Apr 06, 2017

    Thanks a lot! I really appreciate your feedback

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  6. Brian on Apr 08, 2017

    Otto Lilienthal, back in 1891 flew his glider for the first time. He completed over two Thousand glider flights between then and his death on the 23rd of May in 1896. This man likely would have beaten the Wright brothers to being the first in powered flight had it not been for his death to a stall.

    I mention this particular aviation legend because you ask about “FORCED” landings. As though an engine out is something unusual to aviation. Aviation began with forced landings. Guys like Bob Hoover perform aerobatics in twin engine airplanes with both engines off and the propellers feathered in front of thousands of people…repeatedly! And yet each time he returned to Earth safely.

    An airplane without an engine isn’t being FORCED to do anything. It is just flying, like it was meant to do. Just like it did since the dawn of aviation.

    Sit back and learn how she wants to fly and then you can work with her to safely return to earth. Our flying machines today are many times more stable and survivable to impact than what our pioneers worked with. Surely we can figure out how to safely bring them to earth without power?

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  7. HardLandings on Apr 11, 2017

    I would be very interested to know if you are having issues with your CFI, or if you are just trying to be extra diligent to make sure what that person is telling you is common and prudent among flight instructors. However, I don’t fully believe that emergency procedures should not be sprung on students. Aside from one engine failure that I know about where the pilot took off with zero oil pressure and said to himself “I am pretty sure that it is just the gauge’, engine problems rarely give advanced notice. So why not emulate that in the training. Near the conclusion of a flight where I have been discussing the procedures that I want to see if there was an emergency engine failure, I fail the engine with no further warning. I find that it accomplishes just enough ‘surprise factor’ along with the factor of ‘well, I guess I should have guessed that would be next’. I haven’t had a student yet that got mad at me over doing it this way, and only one that asked ‘soo, its ok to take the engine failure this close to the ground’…

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