Hi everyone- I know you rarely receive comments from my corner (although much appreciated I read yours), but I had to comment on this one.
Mine was the coupe that last year the engine quit on takeoff---200 feet off the runway. There would have been absolutely NO WAY we could have turned around and headed back to the runway. If we had tried to turn, we would have ended up on top of houses, or cartwheeling as stated in the previous email. Instead, we put it down in a field that was directly ahead of us (thankfully). When that engine quit, that little plane didn't want to do ANYTHING except head straight down. With that in mind, why take a chance that you won't make? Put it down wherever you can, but don't waste your momentum on trying to turn to the runway because you won't make it. That's my two cents! Zach Bair >>> "Jerry Eichenberger" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 06/01/99 02:45pm >>> I've liked all of this info, but have to say my piece about turning back to runway after engine failure on takeoff. First, I'm a CFI since 1966, and am also a glider pilot. In glider training, we teach tow rope breaks (the glider equivalent to an engine failure) at 200', and teach turning back to the runway at that altitude. In a glider, that's duck soup; you even have to use full spoilers most of the time to get down before running out of runway to land on. Again, that's in a glider with at least a 24:1 glide ratio, and minimum sink of less than 200' per minute. To me, a Coupe is much different. First, who knows its real minimum sink gliding speed, which is much lower than maximum lift over drag speed, which is the speed typically quoted as glide speed for powered airplanes. Three years ago, I had a C-172 quit on me about 500' after takeoff. Using 1.2 Vso as a ballpark minimum sink speed, I managed to turn it around and return to the runway, barely. But, I would never recommend this to any one who is not a glider pilot, who has never made a "for real" engine out landing, and who can't fly slow flight within a knot or two of the desired airspeed, all while banked 45 degrees for the turn around. One of the major things I don't like about our coupe is its terrible glide performance. It's the worst I've ever seen in a light plane, even worse than a Tripacer or Colt. A 172 will outglide a coupe any day. While the coupe wouldn't spin in, I can't imagine it's being able to make the turn around and have wings level at touchdown. If it cartwheels on touchdown - you're dead. No significant roll over protection in the structure, coupled with the header tank and likely fire aren't conditions I want to deal with. If it quits that low, just turn off the fuel and put it down with minimal manuevering. Turn off ignition and master if you can to minimize liklihood of fire. Jerry Eichenberger Columbus, Ohio N2906H CFII- ASMEL Commercial ASMEL, Helicopter & Glider
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