Unintended slight thread drift. Having done several simulated approaches to a power on ditching at night in a real four engined maritime aircraft of another era, survival at impact depends heavily on pilot raw data instrument flying skills. Rate of descent no more than 200 feet per minute and optimum nose attitude, IAS as slow as is considered safe. Then because the QNH may be unknown you need to be stablised under those conditions for the last 500 feet at least. In those days we laid our own flare path time permitting using flame floats.
With todays sophisticated simulators a simulated approach to ditching is feasible. Yet in my experience in the airline industry I have yet to see pilots demonstrate their skills at this sequence. Having said that, and probably because I have taken part in several "simulated" ditchings at night in a real maritime reconnaissance military aircraft over real water (requirement to go-around 200 ft above the sea), I can attest it takes very careful instrument flying when 200 miles out to sea at night where it is real black.
To those who say ditching an airliner is so remote so no need to demonstrate skill, consider the possibility of an uncontrollable engine or airframe fire and the need to get down quickly before control is lost and you are over water. A ditch or die situation so to speak.
For thirty minutes twice a year in a simulator, would that not be good confidence builder and value for money? After all, it is the last 1000 ft of descent which need to be practiced in tems of aircraft handling on instruments. Forget checklists and long briefings. That can be discussed in the briefing room. It is all about skilful attitude flying and careful throttle handling over a period of three or four minutes prior to impact. if you have never had the opportunity to practice a ditching approach on instruments, survival chances are slim if it happens for real. From experience I can tell you it takes several practices in the simulator before competency is assured. There are no second chances if it happens for real
Now back to the original post with apologies for hijacking the author's subject of total electrical failure over water.