Pilot Short Story: Emergency in IMC

In Pilot Short Story: Emergency in IMC, Thomas Turner, executive director of the American Bonanza Society Air Safety Foundation, shares lessons learned dealing with partial engine power on an instrument approach in IMC during a training flight. He reviews what it means to be PIC and how to work with ATC for the flight’s best outcome.

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[zidoocfi]

To pilots from a fellow pilot who is also a controller that teaches other controllers about emergencies -- I completely support Tom Turner's actions here in telling the controller what he needed. Controllers don't always know what is best in an emergency, and if you as the pilot need something, you are in charge as PIC, not me as the controller.

[IslandSimPilot]

What an absolute pro. Well done. I know of another partial power loss in IMC where the pilot followed ATC's command to descend and maintain, and he then lost power entirely and couldn't make the field. It was a fatality. Altitude is your friend.

[unabletochoose]

I am an ATCO. Let me tell you that we have procedures and rules we have to follow even in an emergency. But if the pilot in distress says they need something, I can legally clear them almost anything. Don’t be afraid to tell the controller what you need! If you say you need it, we will make it happen!

[santiagoecarbajal]

The most useful 191 seconds I’ll spend today. Great video!

[BayAreaMotorcycleCommuting]

Really glad the sprayed fuel didn't find an ignition source outside of the engine. Nicely done

[fortheloveofcake]

Phenomenal airmanship. Emergency in IMC may be one of the most critical and stressful instances and most IFR pilots would revert to their basic training which is "follow ATC instructions."

[intheshellify]

Life lesson... always advocate for yourself, don't allow someone else to make your life or death decisions.

[stubbi]

Wow, what a professional airman. This is incredible.

[flybouy]

I had that happen over Lake Michigan on my way to South Bend with a Saratoga. Was talking to Chicago departure. It was night and the lake had high waves. Was at 5000 and departure gave me descend and maintain 2000. I gave him a negative. Ask for a vector to Gary In. Struggled to maintain altitude until over Gary airport. It turned out to have a fuel metering problem.

[murrethmedia]

Air Traffic Control is there to serve YOU. You're the boss when it comes to your life and the lives of those in your care.

[lucmatter]

Hindsight is always 20/20. Just because a fuel line separated in this rare case, don’t add panic to the equation of an emergency, having people run away (because that’s what’s going to happen). Of course, evacuate asap when you smell gas vapor.

[williambeatty]

Great lesson to learn from ! Keeping your altitude is paramount in a situation like you had !

[pilotrhino]

What a pro, TY for sharing an amazing reminder that we are PIC. It reminds me of the terrible cirrus accident at Houston Hobby where the lady was sked to go around like 5 times before she made a mistake on a go around and lost her life along with the passengers. ATC is amazing, they are so helpful and it often feels like we as pilots are asking them to help us without the common curtisey of knowing their name or saying TY. BUT this is another reminder, we are PIC and we need to do what we need to do to safely land that airplane, especially in an emergency situation.

[alk]

Yes! Yes! Finally, someone is giving correct advice on this. You can't fly instrument procedures without the engine. Fly direct, keep any altitude you can, you'll figure something out once you're over the airport.

[jimk]

Well done. Every bit of this is great advice. See the last rule in the FARs. It says, or used to say, "all these rules are to be ignored if the PIC decides that's what he's got to do to make the flight safe."

[talkingbob]

This video is chock full of GREAT advice from start to finish!

[iwmrlvf]

Good lesson! Don’t give up altitude until you know you can land at your emergency landing location. Controllers can’t decide for you. Only you know what is really happening. Altitude is a very precious resource with a sick airplane.
FYI, all Pilot should know how to get the most out of their airplane to lose altitude as quickly as possible. Reason you come in higher than you need so you’re guaranteed to make it to your landing spot because you don’t need to worry about how to lose altitude you know how to dirty up the airplane put the prop idol flap doors open forward, slip into the wind, sink like a rock.
Thanks Tom glad it worked out well!

[iadcrjca]

Cannot agree with how he handled the situation strongly enough! Excellent job! That, kids, is how you do it. Bravo!!!

[duanesee]

I shook my head mentally at each of the two instruction from Tower, a fraction of a second before the CFI said "negative." After patting myself on the back for agreeing with the pro, I realized this was easy to do sitting in the comfort of my home. I've never experienced an actual emergency. To make clear, thoughtful decisions in a timely manner, when caught be surprise and confused as to what is going on, is a much different matter from sitting on the ground imagining.

One of my instructors was always great at throwing out all manner of theoretical emergencies at random moments of training flights. Hopefully this kind of thought experiment builds mental habits that can be relied upon when actually needed. Thanks for this sober and reasoned account.

[janTasita]

I really like how even though he handled the situation in effectively the best way possible, he still feels like there were several things to learn from and be more aware of in future.