An emergency descent (e.g., cabin smoke or cabin depressurization at altitude) is best executed by

Choices

• ✓ reducing power to idle, extending flaps and gear.correct

  per POH limits), banking 30-45° to maximize descent rate while staying within Vfe/Vle/Vne. Emergency descent goal: lose altitude as fast as possible while staying within structural and configuration limits. Idle power, flaps and gear out (within Vfe/Vle), 30-45° bank to keep load factor low while maximizing turn / descent rate, watching airspeed below Vne. Some POHs specify a target IAS (e.g., Vfe -10).

• maintaining cruise power and pitching down 5°.

  Cruise power and 5° pitch is a normal descent, not emergency.

• performing a slow spiral with bank under 10°.

  Shallow bank gives marginal descent advantage over straight descent.

• deploying the parachute (if equipped) regardless of conditions.

  CAPS deployment has speed/altitude envelope; not always appropriate.