Engine Failure After Takeoff in a Single-Engine Training Aircraft
You are a flight instructor in a single-engine piston trainer on a VFR training flight from a 1,200 m paved runway at 2,400 m elevation. The student is flying. At about 120 m above ground level after rotation, the engine begins to run rough, then loses power. The propeller is still turning. The aircraft is at 95 km/h indicated airspeed, climbing at about 300 ft/min before the failure. The best-glide speed is 110 km/h, and the best-angle-of-climb speed is 95 km/h. The terrain ahead is flat for 800 m, then rises into a hillside. There is a 400 m grass strip 600 m to the left, and a road 300 m ahead. The wind is calm. The aircraft has 45 minutes of fuel remaining.
1. As the instructor, what is your immediate sequence of actions, and who flies the aircraft?
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The instructor must take control immediately and positively, announcing 'I have control' so the student does not fight the controls. The first action is to lower the nose to maintain the best-glide speed of 110 km/h; at 120 m AGL and 95 km/h, the aircraft is slow and close to the stall, so pitch control is critical. Simultaneously, select a landing area. The grass strip 600 m to the left is the best option because it is clear, within gliding range, and away from the rising terrain ahead. The road 300 m ahead is closer but may have obstacles, traffic, or wires. The hillside ahead is not viable. The instructor should turn toward the grass strip while maintaining glide speed, then attempt an engine restart: check fuel selector, mixture, carburetor heat, magnetos, and primer. If the engine does not restart, commit to the forced landing, transmit a MAYDAY on the appropriate frequency, and brief the student to brace. The instructor flies the aircraft throughout; the student may assist with radio or checklist but not with controls.
2. Estimate whether the aircraft can reach the grass strip from 120 m AGL, and explain the factors that affect the glide.
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At a best glide of 110 km/h and a typical light trainer glide ratio of about 9:1, the aircraft can travel roughly 9 m forward for every 1 m of altitude lost. From 120 m AGL, the maximum still-air glide distance is about 1,080 m. The grass strip is 600 m to the left, which is within that range, but the turn to the left costs altitude, perhaps 30 to 50 m, reducing the available glide distance to about 700 to 800 m. That still leaves a margin, but it is tight. The wind is calm, so there is no headwind penalty or tailwind benefit. The aircraft's actual glide performance may be worse than the book figure if the propeller is windmilling, if the landing gear or flaps are extended, or if the aircraft is above maximum landing mass. The instructor should therefore aim for a point slightly past the threshold of the grass strip to preserve options, and should not stretch the glide by raising the nose, which risks a stall. If the strip cannot be reached, the road ahead is a secondary option, but it must be inspected for wires and vehicles.
3. After a successful landing on the grass strip, what should the instructor do, and what regulatory reporting applies?
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After landing, the instructor should stop the aircraft, shut down the engine and electrical system, and ensure the student and instructor are uninjured. The instructor should then secure the aircraft, note the position, and contact the operator and the DGAC accident/incident reporting channel. In Bolivia, the DGAC requires notification of accidents and serious incidents; an engine failure in flight that results in a forced landing is a reportable incident even without injuries or damage. The instructor should preserve evidence, including the engine condition, fuel samples, and the aircraft logbook, and should not disturb the aircraft more than necessary for safety. The instructor should also file a written report describing the sequence of events, the actions taken, and the outcome. Finally, the instructor should debrief the student, because the student was flying at the moment of failure and may need support and a clear explanation of the instructor's takeover.