Incident Overview
A flight instructor intentionally shut down the right engine of the airplane to practice single-engine flight. Subsequent attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful; later examination determined that the mixture control cable had failed. The pilot did not feather the right engine, and reported that the left engine was providing insufficient power to maintain flight. The instructor executed a gear-down landing in rough, brush-covered desert terrain.
Flight Details
According to the owner of the airplane, the practice engine shutdown was performed at 9,500 feet mean sea level, approximately 3,800 feet above the terrain. The owner stated that the practice maneuver was not initiated over a landing airfield, but that two airfields were available within 5 miles of that location.
Performance Considerations
The airplane's Owner's Manual performance section indicates that the single-engine best rate of climb ranges from 50 feet per minute to 250 feet per minute, depending on altitude and outside air temperature. A representative from the manufacturer noted that a non-feathered propeller would reduce the rate of climb by approximately 400 feet per minute, and that having the landing gear extended would reduce it an additional 300 feet per minute.