F
F
L
L
I
I
G
G
H
H
T
T
T
T
R
R
A
A
I
I
N
N
I
I
N
N
G
G
S
S
U
U
P
P
P
P
L
L
E
E
M
M
E
E
N
N
T
T
for SPORT
STAR
Light Sport Aircraft
Document No.: S2006FTSUS Revision: -
Date of Issue: 15/01/2006
Page:
117/130
5. If the engine fails above 120m (400ft), then immediately push the
stick forward to increase airspeed and go into descent, extend flaps
as required and turn up to 180° to return to the airport. The correct
actions are:
•
start a turn back to the runway. The direction of turn is crucial –
you must turn into any crosswind. This will allow you to turn less
than 180° degrees because you will be turning upwind and when
you roll out you let the crosswind blow you toward the runway. If
you turn downwind you will have to turn more than 180° to get back
to runway centreline and then make another turn to get lined up on
the runway. The direction of turn should be considered before take
off so that when the engine failure happens you do not have to
make any decisions and can react immediately.
•
maintain the best glide speed 57 KIAS and ensure flaps are UP.
This should be simultaneous with starting the turn because the
typical mistake is for the pilot to allow the airspeed to decrease in
the turn to the point of stall, use a bit too much rudder to increase
the turn rate and the aircraft enters a spin from which recovery is
impossible. The crash is usually fatal.
•
once rolled out and pointed at the runway, maintain the glide
speed. This is very difficult to do if it appears uncertain to you that
you will be able to make the runway because the natural tendency
is to raise the nose in this situation. However, remember that the
best glide speed means that for any other speed you will not travel
as far across the ground. So if you think you won’t make it and
raise the nose to stretch your glide you are guaranteeing that you
will not glide as far as possible.
•
use flap as required to land. Do not put it all down at once because
you may cause yourself to land short. Put flap down in stages and
only when you can really tell that you are high – that way you
should never over commit yourself and end up short.
•
be prepared for the downwind landing, particularly if the wind is
strong. Your ground speed will be higher at touchdown and the
nose wheel steering will be much more sensitive. Raise the flap
after touchdown to get more weight on the wheels for braking.