On Mar 25, 1:48*pm, toad wrote:
Yes, a 500 ft engine out on takeoff in a light plane is more like a
125 ft rope break. *Now do a 180 turn around to land.

Try to simulate this emergency some time if you have power license or
a friend to fly with. *Just be prepared to see how fast the ground
comes up.

I have maintained for a long time that power pilot training for engine
failure had the priorities wrong. Power pilots are taught to set best
glide speed first. All this does is waste time and altitude going away
from the landing place if a turn back is the only option.

One year, when I was active as an airplane CFI, I trained 3 different
pilots in engine out turn back. All were able to turn back, and be in
position to land, when power loss was simulated 400ft above the runway
at Vy. The aircraft used were a PA28-180 and a Grumman AA5A. The
better pilots did it so well they had loads of altitude to burn after
getting lined up to land.

With the right technique 400agl power loss in these aircraft was
similar to 200ft rope break in a glider.

The right technique of course was to do just what we teach in
gliders. Immediate 45 deg banked turn, into the wind if any. Speed
in the turn not best glide speed but the minimum speed that gives a
safe stall margin. In most airplanes that is much slower than best
glide speed.

The initial training was performed about 1500 agl using a road as a
simulated runway. Only when the technique was mastered was an actual
low altitude turn back performed.

Andy