Pilot's tip of the week

Engine Failure: #1 Rule

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Subscriber question:

"Simple question: What's the most important thing for surviving total engine failure? A simple answer would be appreciated." — Peter A.

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Bob:

“You absolutely have to be sure that you don’t stall the airplane!

I’ve been to many aircraft accident scenes, I’ve evaluated hundreds and hundreds of accidents and pilots are NOT killed when they fly their airplane to the ground under control. They ARE killed when they stall an airplane into the ground.

So maintaining an airspeed safely above stall speed right on down to the ground is so very, very important.”

Have you ever had to make an off-airport landing?

(If so, what's the #1 thing that made it a success?)

(NEW) VFR Mastery scenario #95 “Iconic Adventure” is now available. You’re a sport pilot who took a friend for a day of splash and dashing in your Icon A5. After lunch, you met some folks with an XCub on amphibs, and your friend got some stick time with the pilot of that plane, who is also a CFI. Unfortunately, the XCub got stuck on the runway where you were supposed to swap passengers. After some loitering, there’s a plan to move it, but the clock is ticking toward civil twilight—after which you can’t legally fly. Pretty soon you won’t have time to get home. Is there a way to retrieve your friend without excessive risk or busting a reg? Watch the Intro video.

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