I haven't seen the article but this is a good topic to discuss.
Engine fails, runs rough or otherwise indicates a lack of health at 2000-4000ft:
- adopt attitude for best glide, trim, carb heat on.
Remember to monitor speed throughout and (when practising ) warm engine every 500-1000ft.
- turn into wind and pick field to one side (not straight ahead!)
- elect landing area and IAP (Initial aiming point) 1/3 of way into landing area
- track parallel to landing area at about half span separation while running the restart checks (assumes no fire or obvious mechanical disaster), reassess landing area
- when IAP is just behind shoulder (about 1800ft agl) turn to track at right angles to landing direction and make Mayday call, reassess landing area
- when IAP is just behind shoulder (about 1400ft agl) start a shallow turn towards downwind and assess sight line depression angle (SLA) to IAP, continue to make small changes of bank angle to maintain SLA while performing your standard pre-landing checks (delay undercarriage)
- at the end of the downwind curve perform the forced landing checks
- when on curved base and certain of making the IAP (about 600 agl) use flaps, sideslip or S turns to bring touch down point towards the near end.
At other estimated heights fly to where you should be in the above pattern.
When higher, fly to area of best fields.
Can this be controversial
it's PPRUNE, of course it can
HFD