CPL CPL Emergency Procedures and Crew Resource Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What action should a commercial pilot take upon experiencing an engine-driven hydraulic pump failure on a multi-engine aircraft?
- Immediately shut down the engine
- Switch to the auxiliary (electric) hydraulic pump and reference the abnormal checklist (Correct answer)
- Declare an emergency and land immediately
- Disengage autopilot and switch to manual reversion
Correct answer: Switch to the auxiliary (electric) hydraulic pump and reference the abnormal checklist
In the event of an engine-driven hydraulic pump failure, the pilot should activate the backup electric pump per the abnormal procedures checklist to restore hydraulic pressure.
Question 2: A commercial pilot notices carbon monoxide (CO) detector has changed color mid-flight. The correct immediate action is:
- Turn off the heater, open fresh air vents, don oxygen if available, and land as soon as practical (Correct answer)
- Reduce cruise altitude to increase oxygen concentration
- Increase cabin pressurization to dilute CO
- Continue flight and check CO levels after landing
Correct answer: Turn off the heater, open fresh air vents, don oxygen if available, and land as soon as practical
CO is colorless and odorless; the pilot must immediately eliminate the source (heater), ventilate the cockpit, use supplemental oxygen, and land as soon as safely possible.
Question 3: What is the definition of 'controlled flight into terrain' (CFIT)?
- An accident where a fully functioning aircraft under pilot control strikes terrain or obstacles without prior warning (Correct answer)
- A deliberate emergency landing on terrain
- Terrain contact caused by mechanical failure
- Any accident occurring below 1,000 ft AGL
Correct answer: An accident where a fully functioning aircraft under pilot control strikes terrain or obstacles without prior warning
CFIT occurs when an airworthy aircraft under pilot control inadvertently flies into terrain, water, or obstacles, often due to crew awareness or situational awareness failures.
Question 4: During a CRM briefing, an assertive first officer states disagreement with the captain's approach plan. The captain should:
- Override the first officer's concern and proceed as planned
- Actively listen, evaluate the concern, and incorporate valid input into the decision (Correct answer)
- Report the first officer for insubordination
- Ignore the concern unless it is stated in writing
Correct answer: Actively listen, evaluate the concern, and incorporate valid input into the decision
Effective CRM requires the captain to foster open communication, actively evaluate crew input, and make collaborative decisions to prevent errors.
Question 5: What is the recommended technique for recovering from a power-off spiral dive?
- Apply full back pressure and simultaneously add full power
- Reduce power, roll wings level, then gently pull out of the dive (Correct answer)
- Apply full rudder opposite to the direction of spiral to yaw out
- Extend flaps to increase drag and slow the rotation
Correct answer: Reduce power, roll wings level, then gently pull out of the dive
In a spiral dive, adding back pressure increases the bank and worsens the spiral; the correct technique is to reduce power, level the wings first, then apply back pressure to pull out of the dive.
Question 6: A commercial pilot is flying a passenger charter and the cabin fills with smoke from an unknown source. The immediate priority is:
- Identify the source before taking any action
- Don oxygen masks, declare an emergency, and prepare for immediate landing (Correct answer)
- Increase pressurization to push smoke out
- Ask passengers to locate the source of smoke
Correct answer: Don oxygen masks, declare an emergency, and prepare for immediate landing
Smoke in the cockpit/cabin is a life-threatening emergency; pilots must immediately don oxygen, declare an emergency, and land as soon as possible per smoke/fume emergency procedures.
CPL CPL Emergency Procedures and Crew Resource Management 2
What action should a commercial pilot take upon experiencing an engine-driven hydraulic pump failure on a multi-engine aircraft?