One Pilot Thinks A Five Second Thought Process Could Prevent A Loss Of Control Accident

Yesterday in our AeroSports Update, ANN Assistant Editor, Earl Downs, address the forum he presented at the Zenith Open House and Fly-in held last month. The subject of his forum was loss of control (LOC) prevention, and the following is a piece of advice that he offered for preventing a loss of control by being ready for a problem to occur on takeoff.

Accidents caused through loss of control are a hot button with the FAA and NTSB. Resolutions to the problems range from receiving Aerobatic training to developing devices that either display angle of attack information or automatically react to it. The truth is, one of the biggest steps in reducing LOC accidents can be addressed by the pilots themselves by improving their piloting and decision-making skills in the aircraft they are currently flying.

The most critical times in aircraft operation are when the aircraft is close to the ground. These two times are, of course, takeoff and landing. The obvious factor here is that if something goes wrong, gravity is your enemy and altitude is your friend. In this discussion, let’s talk about an engine failure occurring shortly after takeoff.

Can you actually be prepared at all times? Earl says he thinks there is a way to be prepared for an engine failure on every takeoff, and he calls it his ‘Five Second Emergency Review’.

Earl says his technique is to review key emergency procedures prior to every takeoff as if this was the day that it’s going to happen. He has already developed engine failure pitch over procedures to establish a glide, and he knows exactly how much altitude the airplane loses in a no power turn. This means he has the skills to prevent a stall on takeoff in the event of an engine failure, but he questions his ability to handle the total thought process without a little tickler before every takeoff roll.

His five second emergency review involves two steps before the takeoff roll begins and two steps if an emergency landing is eminent. The first two steps involve a quick thought about the locale to predetermine the best place to go, or not to go, in the event an off-field landing is required. The second is to predetermine a minimum altitude for a possible return to the runway.

The other two steps are airplane systems management which include assuring fuel is available and the other assures electrical power is removed from the fuel pump if a landing is unavoidable.

Earl’s attitude is that if you are mentally prepared for the worst case scenario there’s a better chance of handling a desperate situation without losing control of the aircraft. Earl added, “Of course it’s up to the individual pilot to develop the review based on experience and individual aircraft. It’s the thought that counts.”

(Image of a Five Second Emergency Review Checklist example)

FMI: FAA Airplane Flying Handbook