Kevin, I do not recall the exact numbers, but the deal breaker is not ICO anyway, it is pulling the prop right back. And that is mandatory as part of the sequence. (Again, for anyone thinking about this do it at altitude and learn what actually happens). A fixed pitch prop is another matter, you will need to test that to determine the prop speed that equals the airspeed without assisting.
While I think of it, how many folk fly gliders and what teachings are there about rope breaks etc. They do turn backs all the time. They do it at my field with traffic all over the place. And they do it from very low altitudes. But before someone jumps up and down and says they are gliders etc etc. think about it. We are all gliders just with different glide ratio's and best glide speeds.
Think about this?.we should all be treating each take off like a glider pilot, expecting the rope to break at the worst times plus or minus a bit, and then be delighted when it does not.
Paul,
I really do have immense respect for folk with far greater stick and rudder skills than I do, I have never met you or guys like Doung Rozendahl but I have friends in your skill set, and this is where I have learned so much.
I agree, the statistics show a high number (not all) who do it and stuff up do not survive, but I will bet you (and I bet I have spent far less or equal on gambling than you
) that those who died had never actually trained for what they ultimately screwed up. How many Shuttle landings were screwed up first time in the sim, and how many on the runway and why?
The secret here is knowing what you can and can't do. The problem is some think they can do it and can't and they populate the statistics, so you are always in a far better situation knowing you can't make it and not doing so. You said it yourself if you are at pattern altitude you will, is that because you know or just assume? OK so you will, but do you know that is enough from upwind as different from end of down wind? Perhaps that is quite achievable for your plane, but what if it isn't and you are wrong because you don't know. Unless you do it you will never know. You will be further from the field for a start, but maybe not depending on winds. So many variables, yet there are so many options available if you fly the aeroplane all the way into the crash and know what you can make and what you can't,
and this could change all the way through the emergency landing, even if landing straight ahead.
One more point, you mention
Practice all you want - unless you have experienced a real emergency, you don't know how you'll react.
This applies equally to straight ahead landings. People have screwed these up too when they should not have and them and their pax have died. Is that OK though?
Know your aeroplane. Be trained and prepared to not just accept only dead ahead, when a survivable off field landing at 90 degrees might be the best option.
This is always dragged back to landing on the departure runway, these discussions should actually be about knowing what you can do and being able to do it.
A 74 year old motor racing friend, ex QF B747 check and trainer and GA fanatic once said to me?."if you only think you can, you can't. You have to know you can." That applies to flying, emergency landings, racing cars, brain surgery?.or flying space shuttles. This topic is the same. And the warning here is this, if you think you can?you can't. You have to know.