Emergency Procedures and Abnormal Situations at Night
Engine failure at night
At night there is little chance of selecting a field visually. Maintain control, establish best glide, turn toward the nearest suitable area or airfield, squawk 7700 and transmit MAYDAY with position and intentions. Use the landing light to illuminate the surface late in the descent; if nothing is visible, a controlled descent into the least hostile area is better than a stall. Brief passengers, tighten harnesses, and flare using the altimeter and VSI as well as outside cues.
Electrical and instrument failure
Alternator failure at night is serious: you lose landing, panel and possibly radio lighting. Reduce load, select standby or battery power, use the torch, and land at the nearest suitable aerodrome before the battery is exhausted. Vacuum or gyro failure requires partial-panel instrument flying; use the standby instruments and declare an emergency if unsure.
Spatial disorientation
If you feel disoriented, believe the instruments, keep a steady scan, engage the autopilot if serviceable, and avoid abrupt manoeuvres. Declare the problem to ATC.
Worked example
At night the ammeter shows a continuous discharge and the panel lights dim. Reasoning: the alternator has failed and the battery is carrying the load. Turn off non-essential lights, select the standby radio, inform ATC and divert to the nearest lit aerodrome. Do not continue to the original destination.
Traps
Attempting a turn back to the runway after engine failure; descending below minimum safe altitude while searching for a field; ignoring a discharging ammeter; and delaying the emergency declaration.