# Diamond DA40 180 — Emergency Procedures

> **NOT FOR FLIGHT** — source fidelity: not_applicable | operational review: none | completeness: partial | 2 unresolved safety defect(s)

Emergency procedures for the Diamond DA40 with 180-hp Lycoming IO-360 engine and constant-speed propeller. Memory items are marked accordingly. Contains no numeric limitations; all airspeeds and power settings must come from the specific aircraft POH/AFM. The IO-360 is fuel-injected — there is no carburetor and no carburetor heat system; carburetor ice is not applicable. A note is included in the carb-ice section for reference. DA40-specific considerations: canopy-style door that must be unlatched before forced landing; T-tail pitch characteristics at slow speed; composite airframe.

> **safety_defect**: Contains no airspeeds, power settings, or other numeric limits — all such values must come from the specific aircraft POH/AFM.
> **safety_defect**: Emergency checklists must be practiced and the memory items memorized. This file is an aide-memoire only. Aviate first, then navigate, then communicate.
> **content_gap**: Avionics configuration (G1000 vs steam-gauge) affects the information available during emergencies. Verify all procedures against the specific aircraft POH and supplements.

## Engine Failure on Takeoff (Before or at Liftoff) (EMERGENCY)

- [ ] Throttle `MEMORY` — **CLOSE IMMEDIATELY**
- [ ] Brakes `MEMORY` — **APPLY FIRMLY — STOP ON REMAINING RUNWAY OR OVERRUN**
- [ ] Mixture `MEMORY` — **IDLE CUT-OFF**
- [ ] Ignition switch `MEMORY` — **OFF**
- [ ] Fuel selector `MEMORY` — **OFF**
- [ ] Master switches (battery and alternator) `MEMORY` — **OFF**
- [ ] Canopy latch — if aircraft stops; unlatch to facilitate evacuation; exit promptly if fire risk exists — **UNLATCH, EVACUATE UPWIND**

## Engine Failure in Flight (EMERGENCY)

- [ ] Best glide speed — establish immediately on sidestick; DA40 glides well; do not let airspeed decay `MEMORY` — **BEST GLIDE SPEED PER POH**
- [ ] Suitable landing area — identify and turn toward best available option `MEMORY` — **LANDING AREA SELECTED**
- [ ] Fuel selector — cycle from current position to opposite tank or BOTH `MEMORY` — **ALTERNATE TANK OR BOTH**
- [ ] Mixture `MEMORY` — **RICH**
- [ ] Throttle `MEMORY` — **SMOOTHLY ADVANCE; CHECK FOR ENGINE RESPONSE**
- [ ] Ignition switch — check on BOTH; cycle if suspect — **BOTH**
- [ ] Primer (if equipped) — verify locked and seated — **LOCKED**
- [ ] Engine instruments — check for loss of oil pressure, high oil temperature, or other indication of cause — **NOTED AND ACTED ON**
- [ ] Restart — if conditions and altitude permit; attempt start per POH; do not persist if no response — **ATTEMPTED IF SAFE**
- [ ] Squawk 7700 — declare emergency on current frequency or 121.5 — **DECLARED**
- [ ] If no restart — proceed with forced landing checklist — **FORCED LANDING INITIATED**

## Engine Fire in Flight (EMERGENCY)

- [ ] Mixture `MEMORY` — **IDLE CUT-OFF**
- [ ] Fuel selector `MEMORY` — **OFF**
- [ ] Throttle `MEMORY` — **FULL OPEN (exhaust residual fuel through induction)**
- [ ] Master switches (battery and alternator) `MEMORY` — **OFF**
- [ ] Airspeed — increase to maximum glide within structural limits to help extinguish fire through airflow `MEMORY` — **AIRSPEED INCREASED PER POH**
- [ ] Emergency landing — initiate forced landing immediately; do not attempt restart — **FORCED LANDING INITIATED**
- [ ] Declare emergency — squawk 7700; transmit position and intentions on 121.5 if able — **DECLARED IF ABLE**
- [ ] Canopy — do not open in flight (fire and smoke inhalation hazard); delay until landing and evacuation — **REMAIN CLOSED UNTIL ON GROUND**

## Engine Fire on the Ground (EMERGENCY)

- [ ] Mixture `MEMORY` — **IDLE CUT-OFF**
- [ ] Fuel selector `MEMORY` — **OFF**
- [ ] Throttle — advance fully open to draw fire back into engine compartment `MEMORY` — **FULL OPEN**
- [ ] Ignition switch `MEMORY` — **OFF**
- [ ] Master switches `MEMORY` — **OFF**
- [ ] Canopy — unlatch and open; evacuate aircraft immediately `MEMORY` — **OPEN; EVACUATE UPWIND**
- [ ] Fire extinguisher — direct at base of fire if safe to do so; do not linger near aircraft — **EXTINGUISHER APPLIED IF SAFE**
- [ ] Emergency services — call 911 or airport authority; do not attempt to fly the aircraft — **CALLED**

## Electrical Fire / Smoke in Cockpit (EMERGENCY)

- [ ] Master switches (battery and alternator) `MEMORY` — **OFF**
- [ ] All electrical switches — avionics, lights, pitot heat, fans `MEMORY` — **OFF**
- [ ] Vents / fresh air — increase airflow to dilute smoke; do not open canopy in flight unless specifically directed by POH `MEMORY` — **VENTS OPEN**
- [ ] Land as soon as possible — declare emergency; smoke and fumes impair pilot performance rapidly `MEMORY` — **NEAREST SUITABLE FIELD**
- [ ] Circuit breakers — if source is identifiable, pull relevant breaker; do not reset a tripped breaker if fire is suspected — **OFFENDING CIRCUIT ISOLATED IF KNOWN**
- [ ] Battery master — may be restored selectively if radio contact is needed for approach; re-evaluate whether smoke resumes — **RESTORE ONLY IF NECESSARY AND SAFE**
- [ ] Squawk 7700 — declare emergency on 121.5 if other comms are lost — **DECLARED**

## Loss of Oil Pressure (EMERGENCY)

- [ ] Oil pressure — confirm indication is abnormally low or zero; cross-check oil temperature for confirming trend `MEMORY` — **CONFIRMED LOW**
- [ ] Throttle — reduce to minimum power needed to maintain controlled flight; minimize engine load `MEMORY` — **REDUCE POWER**
- [ ] Land immediately — engine failure is imminent if pressure is at or near zero; select best available field now `MEMORY` — **LAND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE**
- [ ] Mixture — enrich if not already; do not lean a potentially overheating engine — **RICH**
- [ ] Declare emergency — squawk 7700; advise ATC of situation and intention — **DECLARED**
- [ ] Engine instruments — monitor CHT and oil temperature for continued degradation; be prepared for sudden seizure — **MONITORING**
- [ ] If oil temperature also rising rapidly — treat as imminent engine failure; do not delay forced landing — **FORCED LANDING INITIATED**

## Carburetor Ice — Not Applicable (EMERGENCY)

> **NOTE:** The Lycoming IO-360 installed in the DA40 180 is fuel-injected. It has no carburetor and no carburetor heat system. Carburetor icing cannot occur. If unexplained power loss occurs, refer to the Engine Failure in Flight checklist.

## Forced Landing (Power-Off) (EMERGENCY)

- [ ] Best glide speed — establish and maintain throughout; the DA40's composite airframe glides efficiently `MEMORY` — **BEST GLIDE SPEED PER POH**
- [ ] Landing site — select the best available field considering length, surface, slope, obstacles, and wind direction `MEMORY` — **FIELD SELECTED**
- [ ] Squawk 7700 — declare emergency on current frequency or 121.5 `MEMORY` — **DECLARED**
- [ ] Fuel selector — **OFF**
- [ ] Mixture — **IDLE CUT-OFF**
- [ ] Propeller — if engine windmilling, consider setting prop full coarse (low RPM) per POH to reduce drag if time permits — **PER POH GUIDANCE**
- [ ] Ignition switch — off when landing is assured — **OFF**
- [ ] Master switches — off before impact to reduce electrical fire risk; leave on until confident landing is achievable — **OFF BEFORE TOUCHDOWN**
- [ ] Canopy latch — UNLATCH prior to touchdown to ensure exit is available after impact; do not open in flight `MEMORY` — **UNLATCHED (NOT OPENED)**
- [ ] Seat belts and shoulder harnesses — as tight as possible on all occupants — **TIGHTENED**
- [ ] Flaps — extend per POH recommendation for terrain type; full flaps for short fields, partial for rough terrain — **PER POH / TERRAIN**
- [ ] Touchdown — aim for far edge of field; fly to the ground; do not stall high; T-tail — maintain positive control through flare; be alert for pitch sensitivity near stall — **CONTROLLED TOUCHDOWN**
- [ ] After stopping — canopy open; evacuate aircraft promptly and move upwind away from fuel — **EVACUATED UPWIND**

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NOT FOR FLIGHT — source fidelity: not_applicable | operational review: none | completeness: partial | 2 unresolved safety defect(s)  
Source: authored — no source document  
Rights: original_expression CC-BY-4.0  
Checklist hash: d86ec07ae2e7dd48284f88271d3c9a4532dc2aaad435ede28f350ab90541513d  
Verify against the aircraft's own approved documentation before use.