← All explained questions · Supplemental · IX — Emergency Operations
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
Execute an emergency descent by reducing power to idle and extending the flaps and gear (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.
Why
Execute an emergency descent by reducing power to idle and extending the flaps and gear (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).
FAA source: AFH Ch 18, POH; AFH Chapter 18 — Emergency Proceduresbrowse the reference library →
Try 10 more questions on this topic →Free, no signup needed to start.
Original study question written for this course — representative of FAA knowledge-test topics, not an actual current FAA exam question. Reviewed by a panel of three CFIs + AI review.