AviationEmergency approach and landing (simulated): Single-engine seaplane: the engine fails in flight (night)
Single-engine seaplane: the engine fails in flight. It happens at night. In flight, the examiner simulates an engine failure. You hold the best glide speed, pick a place to land, fly the path to it, configure the airplane, run the checklists and prepare to land as the examiner asks. It is Task B of Area IX, Emergency Operations, in the FAA Private Pilot Airman Certification Standards, the checkride every private pilot flies.
Free to startThis scenario
- Single-engine seaplane: the engine fails in flight.
- It happens at night.
The steps
- Establish and hold the recommended best glide speed, within 10 knots.
- Select a suitable landing area for your altitude, the wind, the terrain, the obstructions and the glide distance you have.
- Plan the flight path to that area and follow it, or change it if needed, watching for other traffic.
- Configure the airplane as the Pilot's Operating Handbook or Airplane Flight Manual says for the conditions.
- Complete the right checklists, starting with the immediate action items.
- Manage your energy for a stabilized approach.
- Avoid a stall, a spin or flying into terrain while maneuvering low.
- Keep your priorities and situational awareness despite the distractions.
- Prepare for landing as the examiner specifies.
Safety rules that stop the station
- The examiner only simulates an engine failure in a single-engine airplane where a safe landing is possible.
- Any action, or lack of action, that makes the examiner step in to keep the flight safe is unsatisfactory.
To pass
- Best glide speed held within 10 knots, a suitable landing area, a planned and flown path to it, the airplane configured and the checklists done.
- Know the difference between best glide and minimum sink speed, how the wind changes the glide distance, how weather affects the approach, emergency locator transmitters and the help ATC gives an aircraft in distress.
- Missing the standard on this task fails the task and its area of operation.
Official source
Private Pilot for Airplane Category Airman Certification Standards (FAA-S-ACS-6C)
The FAA publishes the Private Pilot Airman Certification Standards free: every task of the checkride with its knowledge, risks and tolerances.
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