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Date: Sun, 19 Nov 2006 20:11:20 -0500
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From: J H Webb <airmale@windstream.net>
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VTAILJEFF@aol.com wrote:
> In a message dated 11/13/2006 3:15:09 PM Central Standard Time, 
> Sky2high@aol.com writes:
>
>     Regardless of how the engine stopped, the way the emergency was
>     handled seems to be important.
> Scott,
>  
> You are a genius. It seems that powered pilots when faced with an 
> engine out situation tend to fly until:
>  
> a) they hit something or
> b) they run out of airspeed and stall the airplane.
>  
> Most aircraft accidents I investigate and pilots I see in flight 
> training or in FAA checkrides are not capable of determining how far 
> they can glide and whether or not they can make it to their chosen 
> landing site. Most pilots do not know how to spiral over their landing 
> site, arrive at a suitable high key and low key postion and land 
> within 200 feet of their chosen point. This is important stuff-- but 
> many pilots do not know how to do it and many do not practice it 
> regularly. It is not hard stuff. If a 14 year old soloing in a glider 
> can do it why can't an adult pilot do it in a Lancair? This guy wasn't 
> even close. Flying is like golf...if you don't practice regularly, how 
> can you expect to shoot par?
>  
> Jeff Edwards
> LIVP N619SJ
Jeff,
Absolutely correct. or put another way practice makes perfect!! I have 
test flown both the Walters and PT 6 engines and they have a common problem.
Plus an abrupt large power change in a LIVPT can cause directional 
distress (large yaw angles) at both low and high speeds without quick 
rudder input you could loose control. This is because of insufficient 
vertical surface aft of the center of gravity/center of pressure. If  
you have not experienced it, it can be very frightening. I have done 
quite a bit of turbine flight test in a former life and one of the 
issues was the abrupt change in drag.  Upfront in a single engine 
airplane this can be very hard to control.

Jack Webb
L360, LIV
BSAE major interest low speed (below Mach 1.0) aerodynamics and stalls
Lots of Engineering flight test and instruction experience in high 
performance a/c