Task:
SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTIONS
REFERENCES: AC 61-21, operating handbook, flight manual
SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTIONS
Partial or complete power loss, engine roughness or overheat, carburetor or induction icing, loss of oil pressure, fuel starvation, electrical system malfunction, flight instrument malfunction, landing gear or flap malfunction, inoperative trim, open door or window, icing, smoke and fire in cabin, smoke and fire in engine compartment, any other emergency, follows prescribed checklist.
P 1. Knows and discusses the systems, malfunctions, and symptoms appropriate to the aircraft used. You are expected to be able to draw all the systems given in the POH.
P 2. Takes action for simulated emergencies, such as--
a. degrees of power loss
b. engine roughness or high temperature
c. carburetor or induction ice
d. low oil pressure
e. fuel starvation
f. electrical system problem
g. instrument malfunction
h. gear or flap problem
i. inoperative trim
j. open door or window
k. structural ice
l. any smoke or fire
m. other emergency
P 3. follows the appropriate emergency checklist.
The examiner is not PIC during the flight test. The examiner test of emergency procedures should be discussed with the applicant before entering the aircraft. Components should only be disabled by mutual agreement.
--Partial power loss.
Options
Possible causes: Magneto position, Carb Heat position or door, mixture position, fuel system problem, shorted spark plug, air filter plugged, and many more.
--Rough running engine or overheat
Options
Possible causes: Carburetor ice, fouled or shorted plugs, magneto short or lead, fuel system, etc.
Never kill a running engine. Use what power you have to get to the nearest landing area. Descent cools, rich cools.
--Structural icing
Options
Do a 180 at first sign. Gain altitude for as long as possible using the fastest speed possible. No flaps and do not slow down in the air. Land hot. the ice on the tailplane is the most dangerous.
--Flight instrument failure
Options
Cover face of failed instrument(s). Proceed to destination. For pitot you can apply pitot heat. For altimeter and airspeed you can break face of VSI or use alternate air. Knowing where trim is set and power setting should allow you to proceed to a safe landing if you have learned how to establish a stabilized approach.
--Carburetor or induction icing
Symptom: rough engine caused by ice blockage of air intake or butterfly venturi.
Options: Cure:
Full Carb Heat. Will cause additional power loss and then a rise as ice melts. Carb Heat off will restore normal power. A climb attitude will increase engine heat. Use magnetos to make engine backfire. May clear ice. Try to climb, lean the mixture
.
--Loss of oil pressure
Symptom: Gauge, high oil temperature.
Options:
If oil temperature is normal it may be gauge. Make precautionary landing. If oil temperature is high, reduce to minimum power and get on ground. Don't try to make the next airport. A partial power landing is always a better option than a fire or dead engine. Reduce power, check oil temperature for rise that indicates loss of oil, get into landing area and down before engine quits
--Fuel starvation
Cause: Usually pilot error or contamination.
Option: Cure:
Get on the ground if you have any power at all. Be sure to get the power off for landing. Switch tanks, change fuel selector, check mixture movement, rock the wings. Once you are committed to landing it is better to forgo any effort to get engine running. A sudden full power engine just prior to touchdown is very dangerous and unlikely to continue. Many accidents have been caused by a sudden resumption of power just as the plane hits the ground. Intermittent engine operation will cease at the worst possible time.
--Engine compartment fire.
Options
Shut off fuel, pull mixture, full power to use fuel in system. CHECKLIST Nose high slip to landing as fast as possible. Another option is to dive vertically in an effort to blow out the fire.
--Electrical system malfunction
Options
If fire, kill master. CHECKLIST Inoperative equipment check fuse/ breaker system. If alternator, try to reset, reduce electric load and proceed to nearest airport. Check switches and amp meter readings. Initially, shut off the master. Then turn off all electrical equipment. Turn on master switch check for operation and problem. Turn on one electrical element at a time and check for problem. Try to locate and isolate problem. If problem continues shut off master and proceed to destination using NORDO procedures for IFR or VFR no radio procedures.
--Gear or flap malfunction.
Options
Undo what you did, first. Aircraft will be controllable if flap positions are equalized. Landing gear up need not be an accident. If flaps are stuck in position, trim for best performance and proceed for landing. If flaps are asymmetric, get them up if possible.
Maintain best control and get to ground in best landing configuration.
CHECKLIST. Gear, fly to nearest large airport and use your radio
.
--Door opening in flight
Options
This will not affect flight or operation except for noise. If you do not know how to close the door in the air, don't try. Land at nearest airport. Not an emergency. Close the window. It is possible to close door while in the air. For hard to close door, best option is to land and close it.
--Trim Inoperative
Options
An inoperative trim in neutral position just makes flying more difficult but constitutes no danger. In any other position it is best to get the plane on the ground at reduced power to reduce control pressures and get the trim repaired.
Flying an out of trim aircraft is not pleasant but it is possible. Shifting some weight might help relive pressure. Work with the pressure until you can get on the ground. Not an emergency.
--Vacuum Failure
Options
Vacuum Gauge at zero. Heading indicator begins to spin. Attitude indicator stops in one position. May be level or cocked.
--Other malfunctions
Loss of throttle control:
Control what ever engine power you have by magneto switch.
Stuck elevator movement
Use trim and power combination for control
Stuck rudder
Use doors for rudder control
No brakes
Full flaps, yoke back, ground loop
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