Congratulations, Kevin, on successfully dealing with an in-flight engine
emergency.
Thank you for taking the trouble to put all the details on your website,
together with your analysis. I commend this to everyone, and suggest taking
the time to think about what you would do if faced with a similar situation.
Remember that partial or complete loss of power may happen at any time, with
any type of engine. Although there are drills, such as checking for carb
icing or fuel starvation, while ensuring that you are not distracted from
flying the aeroplane, the cause may be as obscure as this one and there is
nothing you can do to restore normal power control.
If power is lost completely, then you are committed to an immediate forced
landing. When did you last practice this? Are you aware of the glide
performance in your current configuration? Remember that this can be
affected significantly by a stopped propeller, propeller pitch setting, high
or low all up weight, the presence or absence of spats/speed kit, etc.
As in this case, you may be left with a fixed power level so that you have
time to think (as Kevin did) how you can make best use of it to improve your
situation. Kevin chose transit to a large airfield where he had the best
chance of making a successful forced landing, while making good use of the
emergency services to clear the way and offer guidance.
Do take opportunities to practise forced landings. Use the biannual flight
with an instructor to pick up teaching points on your technique. Try
closing the throttle on a cross-country flight and make an approach to a
field (NB 500 feet) -- remember you should be planning to touch down
one-third of the way into the available landing space. Call up your home
airfield on your return, if they are not too busy, and ask for a practice
forced landing from overhead from 3000 feet or 2000 feet.
Fly safely
Mike
Europa Club Safety Officer
m.j.gregory@cranfield.ac.uk
-----Original Message-----
From: forum-owner@europaclub.org.uk
Subject: Engine off!
Though you might be interested to know that I had a stuck throttle at approx
70% power and ended up having to do an engine off landing!!
Not a nice problem to have but the Europa behaved flawlessly as usual even
in the glide with no power.
Its a long story and I have put a write up on my website
www.ukmicrolights.com
I have let NSI and the PFA know. I don't believe there is a problem and
stick my hand up to not previously detecting this misplaced bracket would
end up causing such a problem! There's a photo and explanation on the web
page if your interested. I see no reason to panic but hopefully a
precautionary note to draw attention to correct fitting would probably be a
good outcome.
I have learnt something just like we all do in our home build community and
on a positive note was glad of the support I received from ATZ D&D etc as
well as now having even more confidence in my Europa and ability to land it
without an engine.
Thanks
Kevin
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