Glider pilots are taught to plan what to do before takeoff. Wind is x so up to a I will land ahead, above a up to b I will circle left and land, above b abbreviated circuit and lend, etc. This training meant I was turning back after an engine failure almost before I had registered what was going on, and probably saved my neck.
FIS
“mainly concentrate my efforts on making sure I have done my before take-off and power checks properly.”
I subscribed to this, but Crank failure does not show up until it lets go, same probably true of other things.
WM
“Another point to consider is the considerable increase in drag that occurs in a real fan stop.”
This is considerable!
The factors, which make a turn back work of fail, are many and varied. Wind is probably the largest semi unknown, and it can be completely different at 500 feet to what is shown on the windsock.