I tend to agree with IO540. Yes, you must trim for best glide as soon as possible, but trimming for best glide will take something like 10 seconds at least. But when the engine stops, your exhaust temperature will drop to ambient in, what, three seconds or less? And once the exhaust temperature has dropped, carb heat (for instance) won't help anymore.
So in case of engine trouble leading to partial or full loss of engine power, here's the drill that I hope I'm going to remember (PA-28 with carbs):
Immediate action items:
- Full power & mixture full rich
- Carb heat on
- Two turns upwards on the trim wheel (assuming cruise trim - this gives me roughly Vbg, fine tune deferred to later)
If very low, don't bother restarting the engine. Trim for best glide, check wind and look for a field. Mayday to ATC, passenger briefing, open door, brace. If time allows, secure the plane before impact (fuel off, electric master off).
If time allows:
Left to right actions:
- Change tanks / aux fuel pump on
- Check ignition on both
- Check primer in & locked
- Check T&Ps, fuel quantity
If engine stopped, try to restart.
Fine trim for best glide, pick a field
Mayday to ATC
Passenger briefing
Jettison loose objects
Think about what I've forgotten...