Expert: Malcolm Dickinson - 12/2/2004

Question
Malcolm:

I am close to getting my private and have been training in a Skyhawk.  

I have been trying to find a comprehensive source of information on how to handle different kinds of emergencies in flight.  I'm talking about situations other than engine failure, radio out, etc.  FOr example, what if a particular gauge goes?  WHat to do to pinpoint a problem in the electrical system, etc.  

DO you know of any good source for this kind of info which has application to planes like the standard, older 172?

Thanks,

Sean S.

Answer
Good question! I can recommend the following:

1. a book by Avram Goldstein called VFR FLIGHT REVIEW: A GUIDE TO BETTER FLYING

2.  Your pilot textbooks, such as the PILOT HANDBOOK by Irvin Gleim ( see http://www.gleim.com/aviation/products.php?cat=AR#Reference%20Books )

3. Search on the web for "Cessna 172 emergency procedures"

4. Ask this question to your instructor, and go through each gauge, saying "how about this one, what are the possible failure modes? How would I tell if the gauge is failed or if the gauge is reading correctly showing a failure of some other system?"

5. It's always good to grab a lesson or two with another instructor before your checkride. If you'r enot happy with the level of detail you get from your regular instructor, maybe now is the time to get a lesson from someone else, and try asking them these questions.

best,
Malcolm