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Attempting the “Impossible Turn”: Turning back to land on the departure runway is a tempting option when the engine of a single-engine airplane quits on initial climb. Many times this attempt has ended in disaster and that’s why it goes by the name of the Impossible Turn. In a King Air, don’t even think about it. Get to pattern altitude, complete the checklist, decide where you want to land – it may not be at the departure airport but rather one with CFR (Crash, Fire, Rescue) capability – and proceed accordingly.
Controllability Issues: My close friend, Beechcraft factory instructor and demo pilot, David Yount, who instructed in King Airs and Dukes for my company Flight Review for many years (and who died much too early due to cancer), told of a winter departure from Beech Field in the factory’s model 200 demonstrator back in the 1970s. He found, on initial climbout that his pitch stability was almost non-existent. With much effort, he returned to the field and made a successful approach and landing. This taught all of us factory pilots how critical it is to verify that all snow and ice has been removed from the impossible-to-see top of the T-tail’s horizontal stabilizer and elevators. A tall ladder or a convenient balcony will be needed!
Here’s a question for you: The next time you conduct your “Before Takeoff” briefing, will you cover all of the abnormalities I have presented here? Golly, I hope not! You’re going to deplete your fuel supply taking the time to cover all of the possibilities!
Instead, I hope this article can serve to add more depth to your knowledge of what can and has occurred during the takeoff and departure process. Discuss it with the other pilot(s) with whom you fly. Maybe review it with the entire flight department during the monthly safety meeting (if you have one). Present it to your recurrent training instructor and see if he/she could perhaps incorporate a couple of these scenarios in a simulator session.
Most importantly, be reminded of some of the weird events that can happen and try to be prepared as best you can. Y’all be careful out there, ya hear?! KA
King Air expert Tom Clements has been flying and instructing in King Airs for over 50 years and is the author of “The King Air Book” and “The King Air Book II.” He is a Gold Seal CFI and has over 23,000 total hours with more than 15,000 in King Airs. For information on ordering his books, contact Tom direct at twcaz@msn.com. Tom is actively mentoring the instructors at King Air Academy in Phoenix.
If you have a question you’d like Tom to answer, please send it to Editor Kim Blonigen at editor@blonigen.net.
28 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
JANUARY 2024