Forced landing checklist
Sequence: cause check, MAYDAY, passenger brief, secure engine. If time permits, once glide and site are set.
Cause check (no fixed time or place; works for most light aircraft absent manufacturer's data):
| Item | Action | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel | Selector on correct tank. Fuel pumps on | Selector must not be accidentally off |
| Fuel (good quantity shown) | Switch to another tank known to have fuel anyway | Gauge may be faulty or line blocked |
| Mixture | Full rich | May have been bumped to idle cut-off or left lean in descent |
| Switches | Magnetos correctly positioned. If still rough, select left and right individually | Check for smooth running on one |
| Throttle/mixture retry | Close throttle; try leaner mixture | Closing throttle can restore useful power if fuel-flow fault quits only at high setting; leaner mixture, partial power |
MAYDAY:
- Order of cause check and MAYDAY not fixed.
- Remote areas: calling first can matter more; waiting may put aircraft below ground-station radio range.
- Call ALL STATIONS.
- Call format:
air-law/distress-call-procedure. - Message content:
air-law/distress-message-and-sequence.
Passengers:
- Remove glasses and sharp objects.
- Stow loose items.
- Side-by-side seat fully back.
- Harnesses snug.
- Unlatch doors on final, unless aerodynamically affected. Prevents jamming if fuselage damaged on landing.
- Ditching: consider cracking a door and wedging it open, or opening the canopy, to reduce jamming (TP 1102 Ditching).
Secure the engine:
- Fuel off
- Mixture idle cut-off
- Magnetos off
- Alternator/generator off
- Master last, after flaps set for landing (or per AFM)
Trap: master switch stays ON until flaps are set for landing; killing it early loses flaps on final.
References
- TP 1102 Ex.22, Forced Landing
- TP 1102 (Emergency Procedures: Ditching)