Term 'dead stick'
Hi Chuck,
This is my understanding of the term 'dead stick'.
When a single piston engine is running normally, the pilot can feel the vibration of the engine through the control column, because prop wash from that single engine is flowing over the tail at a higher velocity than the rate that freestream air is passing over the remainder of the airframe. The aircraft is responsive to the pilot's control inputs and the engine vibration felt through the control column makes the aeroplane feel almost like a living creature.
When the engine fails, the pilot can no longer feel engine vibration through the control column. The stick feels 'dead' in his/her hands. The aircraft ceases to be so responsive because the rate of airflow over the tail surfaces is now only the same as free-stream air over the rest of the airframe.
As speed reduces during the final stages of landing, greater control inputs have to be applied and the aircraft feels increasingly less responsive and the control column feels 'dead'; in short it's a 'dead stick'.
Any landing made under these conditions is a 'dead stick' landing.
'Hope you are well.
Regards,
Broomstick.