What are the steps of the engine-out procedure in flight for a piston-powered airplane?

• A. Establish best glide speed, secure nonessential systems, check fuel and ignition (magnetos), verify mixture/carb heat, attempt restart, prepare for forced landing if needed.
• B. Feather prop and shut down all systems.
• C. Add power and climb.
• D. Ignore magnetos.

Answer: (B)

When a piston engine fails in flight, the priority is to keep control and maximize the chance of a safe landing by following a glide-focused sequence. Start by establishing the best glide speed to squeeze out the most distance and time to set up a landing site. Then secure nonessential systems to reduce workload and electrical load. Next, verify the basics of power availability: check the fuel supply and ignition system (magnetos), and confirm the mixture and carburetor heat are in appropriate settings to rule out common causes like fuel starvation or icing. If conditions permit, attempt a restart using the engine controls; if restart isn’t achieved, prepare for a forced landing and choose a suitable site.

Feathering the propeller and shutting down all systems isn’t part of the standard engine-out procedure for a single-engine piston airplane, and attempting to climb or ignoring the magnetos would hinder your best chance of a safe outcome.