Add donsa to tony for contributing only negativity and absence of thought to this thread. Neither has added an iota, but to attack other posters, as is so often the case. What sad, pathetic ladies these must be.
I am not an engineer.
My question for him now is: Do you still proclaim that pulling the mixture is appropriate, or is it "Luckily it had happened on the ground, because had he done his trick in flight, he wouldn't have been able to restore power."?
It is appropriate, and it is something I still espouse, and a method I still employ. You failed to ask what type aircraft or under what circumstances; you therefore ask the wrong question, or only part of a question. Your quote is taken out of context, for it's an answer I explained repeatedly and fully in that, and other threads on this site.
I also conduct engine failures to a landing, and I demonstrate and require students to demonstrate forced landings off-field. I also teach cross controlled stalls. Each of these tends to wrinkle the nose of the blowhards that seem to think they have a handle on that which they don't even know...which doesn't bother me a bit. Those who decry these acts simply loudly announce their own ignorance.
I never simulate an engine failure unless I have placed myself in a position to fully execute the evoloution as an actual engine failure.
The individual of whom I spoke who experienced the siezed mixture did not exercise such care, and had no judgement or experience to do so. One who had completed USAF UPT and gone no further, he had precious little flight experience, but considered himself the bastian of flight experience and knowledge. He would pull the engine at 100 or 200 or little more on takeoff, often while departing over water or locations where a landing would be nearly impossible. I very much doubt he had the capability to execute a forced landing off field if he needed to, yet frequently failed the engine in the manner I described, in the airplane I described, seldom over a suitable landing site, seldom with the forethought to carry out the simulation should he be unable to restore power.
I NEVER pull power without being fully prepared to not get it back. Therein lies the difference. If I cannot restore power, then I am already in a position to complete the flight to a safe conclusion. With this in mind, it matters not a whit if I pull the mixture, shut off the fuel, or shut off the magnetos or ignition and throw the key out the window. I have positioned myself, and am prepared, to do what I'm paid to do at that time and place; teach and complete the flight safely.
The former pilot to whom I referred felt he was above instructing. He felt forced to do it; he was a "jet pilot" after all, and felt belittle by having to fly with students, and for having to fly a lowly reciprocating engine powered airplane, and a pathetic propeller driven airplane. Heaven forbid that he lift a finger to do more than he had to, which included learning, studying, preparing, or doing a good job in his position or station in life.
A mixture does not simply sieze up. I repaired the mixture; I cleaned and lubricated it, rather than replacing the cable, housing or assembly. It was loaded with grit, and siezed. The repair took sometime, and yielded a lot of contamination inside the housing. This instructor should have seen it coming, he should have been prepared, but he continued to pull his little trick, despite all the warning signs; airplanes talk to you, and he wasn't listening. He risked the life of his student, his own pathetic hide, and presented himself a danger to those on the ground.
Each case I cited was a real example, involving real acts and real people. Nothing condescending in that. Stupid pilot tricks.
Add to it the pilot who purchased his own FBO. He was also a certificated mechanic, and began accepting aircraft in his hangar for repairs. He took an airplane with a wooden propeller in as a leaseback, with him providing the maintenance. One day the propeller left the airplane, causing a certain amount of damage in the process, while in a practice area with a student. He never trained in forced landings off field, but managed to make a highway. He told me afterward he had been surprised to learn that it's necessary to periodically retorque the attach bolts on a wooden propeller. Not only is that part of the care and maintenance of any wooden propeller installation, it's common sense, and it's something that any competent maintenance student should know. His own ignorance, and unwillingness to crack a book or perform maintenance on the airplane by using the legally-required manufacturer maintenance manuals, he carelessly caused an incident that could have ended much worse than it did.
Condescending in noting his actions, am I? A friend of mine, he would agree, and does agree with my comments. He certainly would not see it as condescending, but a true assesment, and it is, as was each event I noted.
Several posters blithly suggested I have placed myself above these individuals, that I have suggested am somehow a better or superior person. These individuals have suggested that I have puffed myself up in citing the errors of these individuals. In no place have I done so. The questioner who started the thread is happy with the responses. Yet these brilliant brightsparks condescendingly must throw in their weight, contributing nothing, to muddy the water and cause a problem. Nice try, folks. Your mindless prattling on is wasted, as is your breath. G'day.