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Aerospace/Aviation/WHAT IF PROPELLERS STOP WORKING

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Expert: - 9/21/2008


Question
Hi,
I have a scnario which is not realistic but logical.

Assumptions:
1. the Weather is extremely perfect (no problem)
2. you may make landing anywhere i mean for example the whole earth is like runway, you dont have to find runway as the whole earth is like runway.
3. other functionality of aircraft is working perfectly except propellers. In short the only problem is propellers are not working.

Scnario:
The aircraft is flying perfectly normal, all of a sudden the propellers stoped working, but other things are working perfectly. I would like to know what is chances to land this aircraft safely.

Answer
Hello,
Thanks for your question! I will make a few assumptions of my own too:
1) We are talking about a multi-engine airplane (since you said propellers, I am assuming this is true)
2) By propellers not working, I assume you mean both engines have stopped for some reason.

With these assumptions, and with the assumptions you've made about there being plenty of suitable place to land, I would say the chances are extremely good that the airplane would land safely. I don't know about coming up with any percent, but with a competent pilot, I would guess at least 90% or higher chance that this airplane could land safely.

All pilots are trained on what to do with an engine failure, and so basically when the engines fail, you have a big glider. Most airplanes are designed to glide very well especially those which carry passengers. With a multi-engine airplane, let me also say that other than if all the fuel runs out, it's fairly unlikely for both engines to fail at the same time. But most pilots have been single engine pilots before becoming multi engine pilots, so they have learned and practiced the skills of gliding to a safe landing during single engine training (though not all the way to the ground not on a runway). When I flight instructed, I would simulate engine failures both near an airport where we could glide all the way to the runway and away from an airport to practice what the pilot would do in that case. So because of all the training pilots get in this area, I think the chances are very good of the airplane landing, provided the pilot has good skills and does not for some reason panic in the situation.

Thanks,
Laura

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Laura Laster

Expertise

I can help with questions about aviation disasters, aircraft operations especially general aviation and King Air information, aviation safety, and education questions on how to get into an aviation career. I can also answer general aviation questions as I am a commercial multi-engine pilot. I cannot answer questions about flight training or MBA schools in countries other than the USA or provide advice for non-US citizens interested in flight training. I cannot answer questions advising you what school to choose. I have no experience with aeronautical engineering so I cannot answer questions relating to engineering or schooling for aeronautical engineers. PLEASE don't ask me questions about any kind of engineering because it is outside my area of expertise, and I will NOT answer your question. I also cannot help you to choose a master's program for study as I do not have a master's degree in aviation. I cannot help with MBA advice.

Experience

I have been studying aviation disasters through doing my own research and a lot of reading since I was 13 or 14 years old. I am very interested in aviation safety and also am a commercial, multi-engine pilot. I am a dispatch manager at a private university working in their flight training department. I also have worked as an operations mamager at a small charter airline and was involved in getting the airline certificated under Part 121 rules. I was formerly a flight operations division manager for a company operating a large fleet of King Air aircraft (60) and so I have some business aviation experience as well as having flight instructed for one year after college. My operations manager job frequently involved coordinating international trips for aerial survey clients and hiring qualified pilots to fly aerial survey missions.

Education/Credentials
Bachelor of Science, Aeronautical Science with Flight Management Concentration: LeTourneau University (2004) :: Dispatch Certificate: Sheffield School of Aeronautics (2010) :: Commercial Pilot: Single and Multi Engine Land, Instrument Rating :: Flight Instructor: Single, Multi and Instrument :: Ground Instructor: Basic and Advanced

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