Private Pilot (Airplane) Approach & Landing With An Inoperative Engine (Simulated) Lesson Plan

The Private Pilot (Airplane) Approach and Landing with an Inoperative Engine (Simulated) Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with approach and landing with an engine inoperative, including engine failure on final approach.

Private Pilot (Airplane) Approach & Landing With An Inoperative Engine (Simulated) Lesson Plan

Private Pilot (Airplane) Approach & Landing With An Inoperative Engine (Simulated) Lesson Plan Introduction

  • Topic:
    Time:
    Attention/Motivator:
    0:05
    Part 1, Lesson Introduction:
    0:05
    Part 2, Approach and Landing with an Inoperative Engine:
    0:10
    Part 3, Approach and Landing with an Inoperative Engine Risk Management:
    0:20
    Part 4, Approach and Landing with an Inoperative Engine Guided Scenario(s):
    0:20
    Part 5, Lesson Conclusion:
    0:05
    Remotivation/Closure:
    0:05
    Total Ground Time:
    0:00

  • Attention Getter:

    • .

  • Motivator:

    • .
Private Pilot (Airplane) Approach & Landing With An Inoperative Engine (Simulated) Lesson Plan

Private Pilot (Airplane) Approach & Landing With An Inoperative Engine (Simulated) Lesson Plan Materials

Private Pilot (Airplane) Approach & Landing With An Inoperative Engine (Simulated) Lesson Plan

Private Pilot (Airplane) Approach & Landing With An Inoperative Engine (Simulated) Lesson Plan Instructor Actions

  • Before the lesson, review reference materials.
  • Part 1, Lesson Introduction:
    • If not previously discussed, provide expectations on time to train, ground instruction vs. flight instruction, and instructor/student availability.
    • Review the lesson plan, including the attention and motivator.
    • Review the airman certification standards.
  • Part 2, Approach and Landing with an Inoperative Engine:
    • Baseline the discussion by reviewing positive airplane control and prompt recognition of abnormal or emergency conditions.
    • Review the aerodynamic and performance effects associated with an inoperative engine, including the factors affecting minimum controllable speed (VMC) and best single-engine rate of climb airspeed (VYSE).
    • Discuss how to identify, verify, feather, and secure an inoperative engine in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations and the appropriate checklist.
    • Discuss the importance of drag reduction, including propeller feathering, gear and flap management, and the manufacturer's recommended control inputs as they relate to zero sideslip and maintaining performance.
    • Review applicant responsibilities during simulated feathering, emphasizing aircraft control, checklist discipline, and instructor/evaluator coordination.
    • Discuss risks associated with potential engine failure inflight or during an approach, including delayed recognition, improper response, and fixation on the failed engine.
    • Review collision hazards, especially while troubleshooting, maneuvering, and dividing attention between traffic, runway environment, and cockpit tasks.
    • Discuss risks associated with configuring the airplane too early, too late, or improperly for a single-engine approach and landing.
    • Discuss low altitude maneuvering risks, including stall, spin, and controlled flight into terrain (CFIT), and emphasize maintaining a stable approach and avoiding unnecessary maneuvering.
    • Discuss distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation during a high-workload emergency approach.
    • Introduce the possibility of a single-engine go-around and discuss when it may or may not be appropriate based on airplane performance, runway environment, and manufacturer guidance.
    • Demonstrate or brief the required skill flow: promptly recognize the engine failure, maintain control, set engine controls, reduce drag, identify and verify the inoperative engine, simulate feathering, and transition to the approach.
    • Emphasize use of the proper control combination, trim, monitoring of the operating engine, and maintaining manufacturer-recommended approach airspeed with a stabilized approach until landing is assured.
    • Discuss touchdown goals, including landing within the first one-third of the available runway or landing surface, with no drift, proper longitudinal alignment, directional control, and appropriate crosswind correction.
  • Part 3, Approach and Landing with an Inoperative Engine Risk Management:
  • Part 4, Approach and Landing with an Inoperative Engine Guided Scenario(s):
    • Lead a guided scenario.
    • Present a realistic engine failure scenario during the approach phase and require the student to verbalize priorities before acting.
    • Require the student to identify the failed engine, verify it, describe the appropriate immediate actions, and explain configuration choices.
    • Question the student on drag reduction, checklist usage, stabilized approach criteria, collision avoidance, and touchdown planning.
    • Challenge the student to assess whether landing is assured or whether a single-engine go-around must be considered.
    • Require the student to explain risk mitigations throughout the scenario, especially low altitude maneuvering hazards, distractions, and task saturation.
  • Part 5, Lesson Conclusion:
    • Present the remotivation, conclude, and provide guidance for follow-on lessons.
    • Review student actions required ahead of the next lesson.
    • Debrief the student's understanding of knowledge, risk management, and skill elements associated with approach and landing with an inoperative engine.
    • Assign follow-on study emphasizing aircraft-specific emergency procedures, stabilized approach criteria, and checklist discipline.
  • Update instructor endorsement records and the student's jacket, as required.
Private Pilot (Airplane) Approach & Landing With An Inoperative Engine (Simulated) Lesson Plan

Private Pilot (Airplane) Approach & Landing With An Inoperative Engine (Simulated) Lesson Plan Guided Scenario(s)

  • The aircraft enters downwind slightly wide and high. The runway is 2,500 feet long with trees on final. Wind is pushing the aircraft away from the runway.
  • The engine power reduces to idle abeam the numbers. The aircraft is now outside a normal glide profile. How does the pilot know if the runway is reachable? What are some factors that can improve success? Lessen it?
  • The aircraft turns final low and slightly offset. Overshooting requires increased bank at low altitude. Any attempt to "tighten the turn" risks exceeding coordinated flight and inducing a stall/spin.
  • The runway is now barely reachable. Any premature flap extension or excess drag results in undershoot. Any attempt to stretch the glide results in rapid airspeed decay.
  • The aircraft crosses obstacles with minimal excess energy. Any deviation in airspeed or alignment results in either:
    • undershoot (insufficient energy)
    • runway excursion (excess energy)
  • The aircraft must touch down:
    • within the first one-third of the runway
    • on centerline
    • with no drift
  • Instructor-Controlled Pressure Points (FORCE DECISIONS):
    • Extend downwind further than normal → forces glide planning error.
    • Add slight tailwind on base → compresses glide margin.
    • Delay engine failure → forces rushed pattern planning.
    • Introduce traffic on final → increases task saturation.
  • Failure Conditions (ACS Fail Triggers):
    • Failure to reach runway (poor planning / drag mismanagement).
    • Uncoordinated turn on final (stall/spin risk).
    • Unstabilized approach below ~500 feet.
    • Touchdown beyond first one-third of runway.
    • Loss of directional control or drift at touchdown.
  • Successful Outcome (ACS Standard):
    • Runway made without excessive maneuvering.
    • Glide speed maintained throughout.
    • Configuration used deliberately—not reactively.
    • Approach stabilized prior to short final.
    • Landing completed in required zone with full control.
Private Pilot (Airplane) Approach & Landing With An Inoperative Engine (Simulated) Lesson Plan

Private Pilot (Airplane) Approach & Landing With An Inoperative Engine (Simulated) Lesson Plan Student Actions

Private Pilot (Airplane) Approach & Landing With An Inoperative Engine (Simulated) Lesson Plan

Private Pilot (Airplane) Approach & Landing With An Inoperative Engine (Simulated) Airman Certification Standards

  • Objective: To determine whether the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with approach and landing with an engine inoperative, including engine failure on final approach
  • Note: See Appendix 2: Safety of Flight and Appendix 3: Aircraft, Equipment, and Operational Requirements & Limitations for information related to this Task
  • References: FAA-H-8083-2 (Risk Management Handbook), FAA-H-8083-3 (Airplane Flying Handbook), FAA-H-8083-25 (Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge); FAA-P-8740-66; POH/AFM.

Private Pilot (Airplane) Approach and Landing with an Inoperative Engine (Simulated) Knowledge:

The applicant demonstrates an understanding of:

  • PA.IX.G.K1:

    Factors affecting minimum controllable speed (VMC).

  • PA.IX.G.K2:

    VMC (red line) and best single-engine rate of climb airspeed (VYSE) (blue line).

  • PA.IX.G.K3:

    How to identify, verify, feather, and secure an inoperative engine.

  • PA.IX.G.K4:

    Importance of drag reduction, including propeller feathering, gear and flap retraction, the manufacturer's recommended control input and its relation to zero sideslip.

  • PA.IX.G.K5:

    Applicant responsibilities during simulated feathering.

Private Pilot (Airplane) Approach and Landing with an Inoperative Engine (Simulated) Risk Management:

The applicant is able to identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with:

Private Pilot (Airplane) Approach and Landing with an Inoperative Engine (Simulated) Skills:

The applicant exhibits the skills to:

  • PA.IX.G.S1:

    Promptly recognize an engine failure and maintain positive airplane control.

  • PA.IX.G.S2:

    Set the engine controls, reduce drag, identify and verify the inoperative engine, and simulate feathering of the propeller on the inoperative engine (evaluator should then establish zero thrust on the inoperative engine).

  • PA.IX.G.S5:

    Monitor the operating engine and make adjustments as necessary.

  • PA.IX.G.S6:

    Maintain the manufacturer's recommended approach airspeed +10/-5 knots, in the landing configuration with a stabilized approach, until landing is assured.

  • PA.IX.G.S7:

    Make smooth, timely, and correct control application before, during, and after touchdown.

  • PA.IX.G.S8:

    Touch down on the first one-third of available runway/landing surface, with no drift, and the airplane's longitudinal axis aligned with and over the runway center or landing path.

  • PA.IX.G.S9:

    Maintain directional control and appropriate crosswind correction throughout the approach and landing.

  • PA.IX.G.S10:

    Complete the appropriate checklist(s).
Private Pilot (Airplane) Approach & Landing With An Inoperative Engine (Simulated) Lesson Plan

Private Pilot (Airplane) Approach & Landing With An Inoperative Engine (Simulated) Lesson Plan Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Night will mess with your visual cues, resulting in increased change for spatial disorientation and temptation to maintain eyes down, inside the cockpit
    • Instructors may sign off students to fly at night if in accordance with FAR 61.87(o)
    • For more information read our section on logging flight time
    • Still looking for something? Continue searching:

  • Closure:

    • Inform students that this lesson will serve as a starting point for the next lesson.
    • Assign study materials for the next lesson.
    • The FAA provides test-taking guidance and test guides on its website.
    • To learn more about earning the practical test, visit the checkride page.