If a plane engine fails during flight, the aircraft's performance is affected, but it doesn't necessarily mean a crash. Modern airplanes are designed with multiple safety systems and procedures to handle such situations.
Here's a breakdown of what generally occurs:
-
For Multi-Engine Aircraft:
- Continued Flight: Most commercial airplanes have multiple engines. If one engine fails, the remaining engine(s) can usually provide enough thrust to maintain flight and reach a suitable airport for landing.
- Pilot Procedures: Pilots are rigorously trained to handle engine failures. They will follow established procedures, which include:
- Maintaining airspeed and altitude.
- Identifying the failed engine.
- Shutting down the failed engine to prevent further damage.
- Adjusting the aircraft's configuration for single-engine flight.
- Communicating with air traffic control.
- Controlled Landing: The pilots will coordinate with air traffic control to divert to the nearest suitable airport for landing. The landing may require slightly different techniques than a normal landing, but it's a routine procedure for trained pilots.
-
For Single-Engine Aircraft:
- Glide Capability: If a single-engine plane experiences engine failure, it will begin to glide. As stated in the reference, "the plane becomes a glider."
- Pilot Skill is Crucial: The pilot must act quickly and decisively to:
- Establish the best glide speed to maximize distance.
- Identify a suitable landing site.
- Attempt to restart the engine (if appropriate).
- Communicate with air traffic control (if possible).
- Emergency Landing: The pilot will perform an emergency landing, ideally on a runway or open field. The reference highlights the importance of pilot skill in this situation, noting, "there is only one chance to make a successful landing. No go-around option…"
In Summary:
| Scenario | Outcome | Key Factors |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-Engine Fail | Continued flight on remaining engines, diversion to nearest airport, and controlled landing. | Number of engines, pilot training, and aircraft performance capabilities. |
| Single-Engine Fail | Aircraft glides, requiring the pilot to identify a landing site and perform an emergency landing. | Pilot skill, glide capabilities of the aircraft, availability of landing sites, and potential for engine restart. |
