PPL Checkride Guide
Chair flying / Engine Failure in Cruise (ABCDE)

Engine Failure in Cruise (ABCDE)

Immediate actions for a power loss in cruise: fly the airplane, commit to a field, attempt a restart, declare, and execute the forced landing.

Guided rehearsal is PremiumACS IX.B: Emergency Approach and Landing (Simulated)

Immediate Actions: ABCDE

  1. A = Airspeed: pitch for best glide (73 kt) and trim for hands-off glide
  2. B = Best field: pick the landing spot NOW
    Into wind, flat, long, no obstacles. Commit early; a good landing in a field beats a bad landing short of a runway.
  3. C = Checklist: attempt restart if altitude permits
    Fuel selector → proper/fullest tank · Mixture → RICH · Electric fuel pump → ON · Magnetos → check L / R / BOTH · Primer → in and locked.
  4. D = Declare: squawk 7700, MAYDAY on frequency or 121.5
  5. E = Execute: fly the approach and secure before touchdown
    Final: fuel selector OFF · Mixture idle cutoff · Mags OFF · Master OFF · Doors unlatched · Belts tight · Brief passengers.

Common errors

  • Fixating on the restart instead of flying toward the field
  • Letting airspeed decay below best glide while troubleshooting
  • Committing to the field too late