Always, Always, Always, Be Ready!

[Salty]

If I'm climbing at Vx and I turn crosswind at 500agl and I lose an engine, I would have to make a very tight turn to put me back onto final, not to mention that 500agl isn't enough altitude to even attempt a turn back. Good setup for a stall spin scenario.

If you don't make the turn at 500 and keep going further from the runway, when you hit 1000, you're going to be further away and still 180 degrees from the runway. Staying closer doesn't make an impossible turn possible, but it does make a possible turn get you back to the runway rather than landing short because you were too far away.

 

[RyanB]

If you don't make the turn at 500 and keep going further from the runway, when you hit 1000, you're going to be further away and still 180 degrees from the runway. Staying closer doesn't make an impossible turn possible, but it does make a possible turn get you back to the runway rather than landing short because you were too far away.

I'm sure the many pilots who have attempted a turn back at a low altitude, would have made an argument similar to that as well. Point is, 500agl is too low to turn back. If you lose an engine at that altitude, you have 90deg to your left and 90deg to your right and that's it. The departure point is no longer an option. Is it possible to turn back at that altitude? Sure, but you would have to be pretty competent with a maneuver such as that and you have to be in the right airplane.

 

[jordane93]

OK, that makes sense...the way I first read his post was I had to reach pattern altitude before turning crosswind. I was thinking "that's gonna take forever with the density altitude here at 5300' field elevation!".

I should fully wake up before posting next time

The AIM states if you are departing the pattern you should wait until pattern altitude. But if you are staying in the pattern, wait until within 300ft of pattern altitude.

 

[Salty]

I'm sure the many pilots who have attempted a turn back at a low altitude, would have made an argument similar to that as well. Point is, 500agl is too low to turn back. If you lose an engine at that altitude, you have 90deg to your left and 90deg to your right and that's it. The departure point is no longer an option. Is it possible to turn back at that altitude? Sure, but you would have to be pretty competent with a maneuver such as that and you have to be in the right airplane.

Your point is that 500agl is too low to turn back. But that isn't what I'm saying. I'll type it again, but it won't say anything different than last time. If you DON'T turn at 500, you're just getting further away from the field. I'm describing a situation where you're high enough to make the turn, but not make it back to the field, because you've gone too far away to make the glide. I'm NOT suggesting making the turn will save you at 500 feet. I'm suggesting that making the turn at 500 feet puts you in a better position if you lose the engine at 1000 feet.

 

[DesertNomad]

It depends on the airport. Straight out at 1000'AGL, I am still over airport property.

 

[Dana]

If I'm climbing at Vx and I turn crosswind at 500agl and I lose an engine, I would have to make a very tight turn to put me back onto final, not to mention that 500agl isn't enough altitude to even attempt a turn back. Good setup for a stall spin scenario.

It depends on the aircraft. In the Kolb I used to fly 250' was enough. My Fisher needed more like 400. For some other planes even 1000 might not be sufficient. A wise pilot practices the scenario to know just what is needed.

 

[RyanB]

Update: Found out the airplane had a cracked case. Still unsure of the reason why, but it's under tear down right now. I'm assuming it was probably fatigue, but hopefully we'll find out later on.

Went out this evening and brushed up on my engine out procedures. One can never have too much practice and/or training.

 

[denverpilot]

Ironically enough, I went out to another local airport last night and did a few power off 180's/ engine failure to landing maneuvers in it.

You probably cracked the case and caused the failure! (GRIN!... Ducking... Kidding...)