So my student has total engine failure and lands in a field today.

[WestHouston]

Yeah, my pre-private student was doing a stage-check with our chief flight instructor and as they are doing a simulated engine failure, upon go-around the engine sputters then seizes... at 600' agl. They luckily (or because of superior pilot skills) execute a soft field landing, plane and pilots intact. My student and instructor (both females) are completely fine. In fact, my student was asking me when I picked them up in a 182 from the nearest airport, how they would've handled it if there were no fields. It just goes to show you it can happen to anyone at any time. I know this sounds stupid, but I wish I could have swapped places with her (my student). I was good experience for her but of course only because she is ok.

 

[BeeFCaKe]

Hope nobody sues ya! But then again they would probably go after the chief CFI before you because she was actually there.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Glad to hear all turned out okay.

You state "they" landed safely. Had the Chief Flight Instructor taken over or did she monitor the students judgment and skill in putting it down. 600' AGL is quite a surprise.

 

[Kaudbron]

did you teach her to clear the engine every so often??

 

[ALIMBO]

Was just about to say the same.

 

[svcta]

if it truly seized then clearing it once in a while wouldn't have done any good.

Good job by the two of them. Had to sneak that in there before the FI 'community' takes them to the gallows.

 

[avbug]

It's never a matter of if, but when. Engines fail.

This is experience the student can't buy. The opportunity to fly it to a landing with a qualified instructor on board is priceless. Sounds like they did exactly what they were supposed to do. Kudo's to them both.

 

[WestHouston]

Glad to hear all turned out okay.

You state "they" landed safely. Had the Chief Flight Instructor taken over or did she monitor the students judgment and skill in putting it down. 600' AGL is quite a surprise.

The chief flight instructor took the controls, however while she is a great instructor, she is an FO at xpress and doesn't fly cessna's that often. The area they were at was over the piney woods of East Texas and there was ONE field to land at and they were over it...

 

[WestHouston]

did you teach her to clear the engine every so often??

Yes, however the engine quit after the go-around and they had climbed about 200'. Upon investigation of the engine the cause has been labeled "water in the fuel". But I'm skeptical about that as they had been flying for over an hour and doing stall and touch and goes to boot. The tanks and the belly sump were drained before takeoff as well.

 

[Metro752]

Nicole W********** is your chief instructor?