Engine gone... what would you do?

[Lost Lake]

The original post said flying throught the mountains. I had the pleasure of flying a beaver through the remotest part of BC. There was one particular point, where the sides of the mountains were almost vertical. Thin trickle of a stream thousands of feet down below.

Only 2 choices in my book. Fly down to the valley and hope you only bounce off small rocks. If you don't like that choice, head her straight in. Better a quick farewell than being eaten alive by a grizzly.

[xsbank]

Touching water in a taildragger, you're NOT going to drive it to the shore without power. The stop will be as sudden as that Beav nr. Deas Lake.

[iflyforpie]

It depends on what kind of terrain I am in.

If it is a U shaped valley, chances are there is wide river at the bottom with many channels and a sand bar landing would be the best best.

In a V shaped valley there isn't going to be anything worth landing on at the bottom. I would take the trees at the lower slopes of the mountains where the underbrush is thicker and the area is less exposed to the elements, closer to fresh water, and probably closer to roads and civilization.

If you are going to do an uphill landing remember to add to your approach speed since it will bleed off very fast and go at an angle to the terrain if it is very steep, never straight uphill and certainly never downhill. Avoid cutblocks or the temptation to land on a logging road. Also fly the plane as far as you can to the ground, never stall at treetop height.

[iflyforpie]

Here's one for you twin engined smart asses

Cessna 310. Crashed 1973. No fatalities. Turned up wrong valley and couldn't out climb terrain.