Engine Failure During Take-off
Engine failure during take-off is one of the statistically most frequent emergencies in GA. The correct reaction depends strongly on the current flight phase — before rotation or already airborne.
Source: POH (binding), FAA-H-8083-3B Chapter 17 Engine Failure During Takeoff.
Definitions — precautionary vs emergency landing
| Precautionary landing | Emergency landing | |
|---|---|---|
| Trigger | Pilot decides proactively to land in order to sustain flight safety | Circumstances force the aircraft to land (e.g. engine failure, fire) |
| Examples | Fuel insufficient to reach destination; deteriorating weather; impending darkness; pilot feels ill | Engine failure, structural break, fire, severe mechanical damage |
| Pressure | Time to plan | Time scarce, immediate decision |
| Landing choice | Planned, suitable airfield | Best available site within glide |
Source: FAA-H-8083-3B Chapter 17; ICAO definitions in Annex 6.
Procedure for technical fault — 5-step sequence
When a technical fault requires an off-field emergency landing, the following steps must be worked through in this order:
- Locate a suitable landing area.
- Plan the approach — glide path, altitude, wind.
- Complete the applicable emergency procedure — work the POH checklist.
- Declare an emergency — mayday, squawk 7700.
- Start and concentrate on the approach in due time — no multi-manoeuvre, clear approach.
These 5 steps are the standard structure of every controlled emergency landing and are used uniformly in the FAA Airplane Flying Handbook as well as EASA training materials.
Phase 1 — before rotation (on the runway)
Symptoms: power loss, RPM drop, rough engine sound, vibrations.
Procedure:
- Throttle IDLE immediately.
- Brake MAXIMUM.
- Mixture IDLE CUT-OFF.
- Fuel selector OFF.
- Magnetos OFF.
- Master switch OFF (AFTER mayday if time permits).
- Stop on runway — avoid leaving the runway.
- Evacuate, alert fire brigade.
Key rule: before Vr the remaining runway is usually enough to stop. Do NOT attempt to get airborne — stall danger.
Phase 2 — after rotation, low altitude (< 200 ft AGL)
Symptoms: power loss shortly after lift-off.
Procedure ("EFATO at low altitude"):
- Nose down immediately to avoid stall — aim for Vbg (best glide).
- STRAIGHT ahead — even if not the ideal landing site.
- Maximum 30° turn for obstacle avoidance.
- Mixture IDLE CUT-OFF (before touchdown).
- Fuel selector OFF.
- Magnetos OFF.
- Master OFF before touchdown.
- Doors unlatched before impact.
- Brace position just before touchdown.
Key rule: do NOT turn back to the field — "Impossible Turn" (see next lesson).
Phase 3 — higher altitude (> 500 ft AGL)
Transition into EFATO proper — see lesson "Engine Failure After Take-off (EFATO)".
Pre-take-off briefing
Spoken before every take-off (part of run-up):
- "Before Vr: stop on runway."
- "After Vr, < 500 AGL: straight, slight deviation for obstacles, emergency landing."
- "Above 500 AGL: best glide, emergency-field selection, possibly turn."
- "Vbg = X KIAS" (POH value).
- "Emergency routes: left field, straight field, right field" (mentally identify before take-off).
Common errors
- Attempting to turn back to the field from too low an altitude → stall/spin.
- Hesitation with nose-down → stall.
- Fixation on a supposedly better landing site rather than the one directly ahead.
Statistics
NTSB data: engine failure on take-off accounts for about 10 % of GA accidents, one of the most frequent triggers, and stall/spin after turning back to the field is markedly more lethal than landing straight ahead (NTSB Annual Safety Reviews).