Title: The feasibility of turnback from a low altitude engine failure during the takeoff climb-out phase
Abstract: Engine failure in a single engine aircraft at a low altitude is a critical evolution which demands immediate implementation of established procedures. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of executing a 180◦ turn and forced landing when engine failure occurs at 500 ft. following takeoff and transition to the climb-out phase of the flight. Using a variable stability flight simulator set for the performance of a light single engine aircraft and a computer-controlled automatic data acquisition system, various procedures for turning back to the airfield and landing were tested and optimized. Pilots ranging in experience from students with 40 hours, to FAA certified flight instructors, to veteran military pilots with more than 5000 hours were tested in the simulator controlled circumstances. The computercontrolled data acquisition system continually recorded the critical parameters of the flight and later processed the data for analysis. The final computer output consisted of eight graphs (airspeed, rate of climb, angle of attack, and bank angle vs time and altitude) and four different views of a graphic computer drawing of the actual flight path. With a data base of 28 pilots, an analysis of the processed output revealed that it is feasible to turn a light single engine aircraft 180◦ from 500 ft. and land the aircraft somewhere on the airfield. The data also show that the theoretical optimum bank of 45◦ with coordinated rudder does indeed turn the aircraft 180◦ with the least loss of altitude. However, the study also shows that 30◦ of bank with coordinated rudder produces only slightly inferior results with a much higher safety factor.
Publication Year: 1982
Publication Date: 1982-01-11
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 5
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