Precautionary Landing

Precautionary landing might be required due to weather conditions, mechanical issues – basically anything could be detrimental if you contine flying.

This type of landing could be done at familiar airports, unfamiliar airports and fields. In order to land the plane safely, you’ll need to do a COWLS check.
- C for Civilization (you would want to land somewhere you can get help)
- O for Obstructions
- W for Width
- L for Length
- S for Surface

For a COWLS check, you will need to do as many high and low passes on the area you intend to land. One high pass and one low pass is required as a minimum:
- Omit Low pass if icing or mechanical issues (because you’ll need to overshoot to get to circuit height before coming in for landing)
- Omit High pass if clouds or time is critical

1. You should always be prepared for a precautionary or forced landing by picking fields while flying. As soon as you are required to do a precautionary landing, pick a field of sufficient length.

2. Consider approach conditions, taking into consideration winds (usually same as winds from where you started, otherwise look for natural signs such as smoke, trees, etc.), map out the area and pick key points mentally (final, base, crosswind, downwind – taking into consideration winds which is likely same as winds when you started)

3. Secure cockpit, notify FSS and do downwind checks and give passenger briefing

4. Initiate a descent to height where you won't have any obstructions (usually 1000 AGL or 500 above circuit height if it is an airport)

5. High level inspection:
- Establish recommended air speed and flaps as outlined in POH (60 KIAS, 20 degree flap) as you enter base or upwind
- Enter circuit as you would at an uncontrolled airport
- Fly at circuit altitude using key points
- Check approach and departure end keeping ‘runway’ to your left
- Full power and retract flaps incrementally after upwind high level inspection, turn crosswind and then downwind
- look at the field for obstructions when flying downwind as well
- Downwind check

6. Low level inspection:
- Descend when turning base as a normal base leg
- - Establish recommended air speed and flaps as outlined in POH (60 KIAS, 20 degree flap) at base
- Level off as low as possible (500 ft. when practicing)
- Keep ‘runway’ to your left and give examiner a briefing
- Overshoot: full power, carb cold, flaps incremental

4. Final
- Turn crosswind and climb back to normal altitude
- do the 3 P check (Pan Pan, Passenger, Pre-Landing check)
- Turn base and final for landing (maintain normal approach speed)
- Touch down in the first third of the field