The ABCs of Emergencies
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It was Fulghum who authored the New York Times bestseller, All I Really Need to know I Learned in Kindergarten. The simple creed offers a valuable lesson in efficiency and effectiveness. Its wisdom has been applied to everything from home life to business dealings and has its place on the flight deck as well.
When an emergency strikes, seconds matter. Indecision is the enemy and reduces your options and likelihood of a positive outcome. My advice is not to say one can’t alter plans in a dynamic situation such as an engine failure; however, the new choice should be obvious as evaluating any new plan will cost precious time.
While complete engine failures are not common, the stakes are high which is why pilots train extensively for such occurrences and why they get evaluated as part of a checkride. If faced with an engine failure, or training for your next engine failure with your instructor, act quick and decisively by remembering what you learned in kindergarten – your ABCs.
A – Airspeed. Establish best glide speed. Do it quickly. If you can gain precious altitude in the process of slowing to your best glide speed even better. Altitude affords us more options and perhaps an opportunity for some trouble shooting. Trim for your best glide speed so that your focus can quickly shift to B (best glide) and be strict in your adherence to speed. There are many options to lose altitude quickly, but nothing you can do in an engine failure to gain it back.
If you can gain precious altitude in the process of slowing to your best glide speed even better.
B – Best place to land. Pilots should always be considering adequate landing locations so maybe some of your work is done. If not, scan the entire area around you for preferably, an airport, but if not, a location that will best ensure your successful outcome – ideally, a flat, open field absent obvious approach obstructions such as trees, powerlines or structures. Remember, your best landing location could be behind you so don’t ignore natural blind spots in your search. If you’re flying with a GPS navigator or charting app, familiarize yourself with the emergency functions to assist in locating an emergency landing area.
As basic as it sounds, pilots can become paralyzed or reluctant to accept the dire circumstances. An obstacle that can be overcome through good training. But don’t delay or move on to our next checklist item until the aircraft if flying toward your landing area at best glide speed.
Choose a location that will best ensure your successful outcome – ideally, a flat, open field absent obvious approach obstructions.
C – Checklist. Your aircraft checklist includes memory items. Needless to say, if a manufacturer has identified an item as being so critically important it should be committed to memory even as seconds matter, not only should the items be rehearsed, but a flow around the flight deck should also be committed to memory to increase your likelihood of accomplishing these items. In a low altitude situation, such as just after takeoff, you’ll be fortunate to even make it through the memory items.
An emergency at altitude, could offer a window to consult a written checklist. This will offer a double check of the appropriate memory items and allow you to explore other potential causes for the failure in an attempt to regain power.
There are some universal elements of the emergency, engine failure checklist some of which are covered by our ABC checklist.
- Best glide – establish best glide
- Landing site – identify your best site AND fly towards that site
- Fuel – switch tanks (if able), check fuel shutoff, enrichen the mixture
- Master – if executing a landing, ensure electric is off to reduce fire risk
Your aircraft checklist includes memory items.
D – Declare. Declare an emergency. If unable to raise Air Traffic Control, provide as many details of your location as possible so that help can be provided. Even if speaking openly on the local frequency or emergency frequency, another aircraft may hear the transmission and be able to call for additional ground assistance.
In the case of ATC, you could ask or even be provided with information on available landing locations. Take extreme caution in the natural tendency to second guess your chosen landing location. Only if absolutely sure you can make a better location for landing, should your original plan be altered. As a matter of standard course, ATC may ask certain questions such as the nature of your emergency, fuel on board and number of souls on board. Don’t feel pressured to respond. Your first obligation is to maintain positive control and FLY THE AIRPLANE. Navigation comes next in the hierarchy of pilot duties and a distant third is communication. In other words, you’re in charge as the PIC. Respond only if able and don’t hesitate to ask for information you may need.
Declare an emergency and provide as many details of your location as possible.
E – Execute. Continue flying the airplane throughout the approach and landing. If time is available to maneuver, consider wind direction, slope of the chosen field and any obstacles. When compromises must be made, opt for the wind and obstacle combination that permits additional margin for error on your final approach.
Positive control is essential throughout so that you can minimize damage to the cabin structure which will increase your odds at escaping injury free. Don’t become obsessed of fixated on salvaging the aircraft itself – only the cabin structure.
Positive control is essential throughout so that you can minimize damage to the cabin structure.
Flaps are recommended if they can be deployed so that you can minimize your forward speed. Minimum forward speed lessens the severity of the deceleration process. Avoid low level, aggressive maneuvering and minimize sink rate.
Much of what we have discussed relates to complete engine failure at altitude. In the case of an engine failure after takeoff, options are greatly reduced. It is usually NOT advisable to turn back to the runway, but instead, to select a landing location directly in front or slightly left or right of your flight path.
The decision to continue straight ahead versus turning back is often difficult to make due to the variables involved such as wind direction and altitude lost in the turn which can be affected even further by other atmospheric conditions, technique, and reaction time. If you’ve not trained for a simulated engine failure with a return to the airport, this would be a valuable exercise so that you can make more informed decisions about what altitude you would need to reach before considering a return to the airport.
No matter the event and no matter the circumstances, these fundamental aviation principles apply:
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- Aviate
- Navigate
- Communicate
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Great article, great reminders!
A-N-C!
I’d suggest adding to the “declare” section, “switch on the ELT” (if equipped with a remote cockpit switch). This will maximize the chance and speed of rescue. Once on the ground, ELT signals could be blocked or the ELT might not activate and the pilot may be unable to switch it on if incapacitated. Add this to your emergency checklist.
Well said and exactly what we taught in our flight.
*SCHOOL. Flight school.
Fantastic article. Thanks. I teach that “A” can be Airspeed, Angle of Attack, or Attitude, then show how pitch Attitude while descending at best glide speed looks about the same as pitch Attitude at level cruise speed because the increase in AoA while slowing to V best glide is about equal to the descent angle (assumes constant speed prop is resem
Assumes constant speed prop is set t minimum drag). “D” (if time permits) includes radio, transponder, and ELT (as Matt proposed).
“E” includes proper landing (into the wind), not being trapped in the airplane (unlatch door, if appropriate), and minimizing fire (fuel, electrics off). Again thanks.
I would include:
– E – Egress considerations/pax brief
– F – Fire/fuel/flaps, everything off to prevent post-crash fires.