emergency

A Tale of Two Engine Failures

Last March, a Beechcraft Bonanza A36TC was in cruise flight at 15,000 feet on the way to the annual aviation celebration known as Sun ’n Fun in Lakeland, Florida, when the pilot noticed the engine power had dropped and the airplane began to slow. A check of the manifold pressure confirmed the turbocharger was no […]

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I Do Declare

The silence was deafening. On April 26, 2022, at approximately 11:12 a.m. ET, while in level VFR flight at 2,000 agl and cruising over the nondescript Ohio landscape, 2,000-hour-plus pilot Marc Epner experienced the unthinkable in his Cirrus SR22, N973SD—a total engine failure. Cue the sweaty palms. What makes this event unique is the fact […]

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The Origins of “Mayday”

May 1st, also known as May Day, has several connotations. In some cultures, it is celebrated as the traditional beginning of spring marked by placing baskets of flowers on doorsteps. For pilots, uttering the phrase “MAYDAY” means they’re in trouble—but have you ever wondered why? MAYDAY and PAN-PAN—also used when we’re in trouble—are both derived […]

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