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Following an engine failure at night, what is an appropriate initial course of action?

Choices

  • ✓ Establish best glide speed and select the best available landing area, considering terrain, obstacles, wind, population, and known open areascorrect

    Best glide plus selecting the best available landing area maximizes options.

  • Immediately dive to build airspeed and find the ground fast

    Diving wastes altitude and control; best glide is the priority.

  • Turn off all lights to conserve the battery

    Lights aid in seeing the surface; the priority is control and glide.

  • Keep full power and climb

    With the engine failed there is no power to climb.

Why

At night the emergency is flown as by day: establish best glide, select the best available landing area considering terrain, obstacles, wind, population, and known open areas, run the checklist, and use the landing light on short final to inspect the surface.

FAA source: AFH Ch. 10browse the reference library →

This is taught in Night Currency and Emergencies — study the lessons free, then practice with grading and mastery tracking.

Original study question written for this course — representative of FAA knowledge-test topics, not an actual current FAA exam question.

Following an engine failure at night, what is an appropriate initial… · PPL Free Ground School