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Emergency Landing

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A reminder: Airplanes can be replaced; people cannot be replaced.

Once a general aviation pilot obtains his license he is "on his own." Occasionally the pilot's inexperience may lead to a situation where there is no safe alternative except a precautionary or emergency landing.

Too many fatal weather accidents are classified as "maintained VFR in IFR conditions.'' These accidents undoubtedly result from the desperate attempt to get through the weather because the underlying terrain did not fit the pilot's mental picture of an emergency landing area.

Previous training generally stresses that it is necessary to find a suitable landing area. This stops the pilot from considering a precautionary landing, unless he can save the aircraft. He will avoid a touchdown in terrain where aircraft damage is unavoidable. Despite your financial stake in an airplane, there are times when you should be more interested in sacrificing the airplane, so you can walk away from it.

Precautionary Landing

Before an accident occurs, you have the option of making a precautionary landing. It is better to make a controlled-crash landing, instead of continuing until it is too late.

A precautionary landing should be made when further flight is possible, but inadvisable. Most precautionary landings are caused by:

  • Deteriorating weather that could lead to "continued VFR into IMC conditions."

  • Poor flight planning.

  • Becoming lost with the complication of fuel shortage, night approaching, and/or adverse weather.

  • Poor preflight procedures or poor fuel management.

  • Gradually developing engine trouble or failure to use carburetor heat.

  • Approaching darkness in formidable terrain.

Engine Failure

Engine failure in a single-engine airplane precludes the possibility of a precautionary landing. Almost any terrain can be considered suitable for surviving a crash landing. That is, if the pilot knows how to use the aircraft structure to protect himself. Keep the vital structure (cockpit and cabin area) intact. Use the wings, landing gear and fuselage bottom to absorb the energy of stopping. Avoid body contact with the interior by using the seat belt and shoulder harness. If time allows, use any padding available such as excess clothing, blankets and pillows. Energy absorbing materials such as small trees, brush, vegetation, deep snow and manmade structures (fences) should be used during the landing to dissipate energy.

A reminder: Airplanes can be replaced; people cannot be replaced.

Once a general aviation pilot obtains his license he is "on his own." Occasionally the pilot's inexperience may lead to a situation where there is no safe alternative except a precautionary or emergency landing.

Too many fatal weather accidents are classified as "maintained VFR in IFR conditions.'' These accidents undoubtedly result from the desperate attempt to get through the weather because the underlying terrain did not fit the pilot's mental picture of an emergency landing area.

Previous training generally stresses that it is necessary to find a suitable landing area. This stops the pilot from considering a precautionary landing, unless he can save the aircraft. He will avoid a touchdown in terrain where aircraft damage is unavoidable. Despite your financial stake in an airplane, there are times when you should be more interested in sacrificing the airplane, so you can walk away from it.

Precautionary Landing

Before an accident occurs, you have the option of making a precautionary landing. It is better to make a controlled-crash landing, instead of continuing until it is too late.

A precautionary landing should be made when further flight is possible, but inadvisable. Most precautionary landings are caused by:

  • Deteriorating weather that could lead to "continued VFR into IMC conditions."

  • Poor flight planning.

  • Becoming lost with the complication of fuel shortage, night approaching, and/or adverse weather.

  • Poor preflight procedures or poor fuel management.

  • Gradually developing engine trouble or failure to use carburetor heat.

  • Approaching darkness in formidable terrain.

Engine Failure

Engine failure in a single-engine airplane precludes the possibility of a precautionary landing. Almost any terrain can be considered suitable for surviving a crash landing. That is, if the pilot knows how to use the aircraft structure to protect himself. Keep the vital structure (cockpit and cabin area) intact. Use the wings, landing gear and fuselage bottom to absorb the energy of stopping. Avoid body contact with the interior by using the seat belt and shoulder harness. If time allows, use any padding available such as excess clothing, blankets and pillows. Energy absorbing materials such as small trees, brush, vegetation, deep snow and manmade structures (fences) should be used during the landing to dissipate energy.

© 1975, 1987, 1998, 2008 Sparky Imeson

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