Every Cirrus pilot knows the engine-out checklist, but knowing isn’t enough—practicing is key.
Imagine climbing out of KCAK in a Cirrus SR20 when the engine sputters and quits at 2,000 feet. This is no time to think it through for the first time.
Engine-out basics:
- Pitch for best glide (around 92 knots in a Cirrus).
- Identify a landing site—at KCAK, long runways offer options, but nearby fields may be your only choice.
- Run the restart checklist quickly, but don’t sacrifice airspeed.
- Prepare for landing—CAPS is also an option above 500 feet AGL.
Practice with an instructor over safe areas. Simulated emergencies make real ones manageable.
Remember: when the engine quits, you don’t rise to the occasion—you fall to your level of training.