Engine Failure and Restart

Where the engine quits decides everything about what you do next. On the ground you are stopping an aeroplane; just after rotation you are landing one, almost straight ahead, with seconds to choose. Both opening blocks are bold faces.

At a glance

• Minimum speed, engine failure after take-off61 KIAS
• Landing direction after take-off failurestraight ahead, changes of direction not exceeding 45° left or 45° right

Engine failure during the take-off run

Steps 1–3 are memory items — known by heart, flown in the correct and complete sequence. Steps 4–7 follow once the aircraft is safely stopped.

1. Throttle — IDLE (keep fully out)

2. Rudder — keep heading control

3. Brakes — apply as needed

4. Ignition key — OFF

5. Fuel selector valve — OFF

6. Electric fuel pump — OFF

7. Alternator & Master switches — OFF

Engine failure immediately after take-off

Steps 1–8 are memory items — known by heart, flown in the correct and complete sequence. Steps 4–8 are flown at, or right before, touch down.

1. Speed — keep minimum 61 KIAS

2. Find a suitable place to land safely

3. Flaps — as needed

4. Throttle — IDLE (fully out and hold)

5. Ignition key — OFF

6. Fuel selector valve — OFF

7. Electric fuel pump — OFF

8. Alternator & Master switches — OFF

WARNING — Plan the immediate landing straight ahead. Only small changes of direction are acceptable, and they may not exceed 45° either side.

Figure: Permitted landing arc after take-off failure (redrawn).

WARNING — Bank angle and longitudinal load factor both raise the stall speed. The acoustic stall warning will in any case give a correct, anticipated cue of an incipient stall.

WARNING — Always precede a single-engine take-off with a thorough take-off emergency self-briefing. Attempt an engine restart right after take-off only where the environmental situation demands it, and never at the cost of attentively flying the immediate emergency landing, which takes priority.

In-flight engine restart

1. Carburettor heat — ON if required

2. Electrical fuel pump — ON

3. Fuel quantity indicator — CHECK

4. Fuel Selector — select the opposite tank, if not empty

5. Ignition key — BOTH

6. Ignition key — START

7. Throttle lever — SET as required

If the restart is unsuccessful

1. Engine — SECURE

2. Land as soon as possible, applying the forced landing procedure

WARNING — Following a mechanical engine seizure, a fire, or major propeller damage, attempting a restart is not recommended.

Check yourself

• What are the first three actions if the engine fails during the take-off run?

• What minimum speed do you keep after an engine failure immediately following take-off?

• How far either side of straight ahead may you turn to reach a landing area?

• What two things raise the stall speed, according to the warning in this lesson?

• In the in-flight restart, what position is the ignition key set to before START?

• After what three kinds of damage is a restart attempt not recommended?

Study aid — always fly your aircraft's current AFM/POH.