# Piper PA-28-181 Archer III — Emergency Procedures

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

Emergency procedures for the Piper PA-28-181 Archer III with Lycoming O-360 carbureted engine. Memory items are marked accordingly. Contains no numeric limitations; all airspeeds and power settings must come from the specific aircraft POH. The O-360 is carbureted — carburetor ice is applicable and included. Aviate first; use this checklist as an aide-memoire only.

> **safety_defect**: Contains no airspeeds, power settings, or other numeric limits — must come from aircraft POH.
> **safety_defect**: Emergency procedures must be studied, briefed, and practiced. This file is an aide-memoire. Aviate first, then navigate and communicate.
> **content_gap**: Equipment variations across this production run may affect available systems during emergencies. Verify all procedures against the specific aircraft POH before flight.

## Engine Failure on Takeoff Roll (Before Lift-Off) (EMERGENCY)

- [ ] Throttle `MEMORY` — **CLOSE IMMEDIATELY**
- [ ] Brakes `MEMORY` — **APPLY FIRMLY — STOP ON REMAINING RUNWAY**
- [ ] Mixture `MEMORY` — **IDLE CUT-OFF**
- [ ] Ignition `MEMORY` — **OFF**
- [ ] Fuel selector `MEMORY` — **OFF**
- [ ] Master switch `MEMORY` — **OFF**
- [ ] Evacuate aircraft if fire or fuel spill present — **AS REQUIRED**

## Engine Failure After Lift-Off (EMERGENCY)

- [ ] Best glide airspeed — pitch immediately to conserve altitude and extend glide range `MEMORY` — **ESTABLISH PER POH**
- [ ] Landing area — select best available surface straight ahead or with the smallest practical turn; avoid low turns to return to runway `MEMORY` — **SELECTED**
- [ ] Throttle `MEMORY` — **CLOSE**
- [ ] Flaps — adjust for selected landing surface; partial flap may allow steeper descent to a short field `MEMORY` — **AS REQUIRED FOR TERRAIN**
- [ ] Mixture `MEMORY` — **IDLE CUT-OFF BEFORE TOUCHDOWN**
- [ ] Ignition `MEMORY` — **OFF BEFORE TOUCHDOWN**
- [ ] Master switch `MEMORY` — **OFF BEFORE TOUCHDOWN**

## Engine Failure in Flight (EMERGENCY)

- [ ] Best glide airspeed — establish immediately to maximize range and time available `MEMORY` — **ESTABLISH PER POH**
- [ ] Landing area — identify best available field or surface within glide range `MEMORY` — **SELECTED**
- [ ] Carburetor heat `MEMORY` — **ON — apply immediately; carb ice may have caused the failure**
- [ ] Fuel selector — switch to the tank with more fuel; verify selector is on a tank `MEMORY` — **FULLEST TANK**
- [ ] Mixture `MEMORY` — **RICH**
- [ ] Throttle `MEMORY` — **ADVANCE — check if partial power is available**
- [ ] Primer — ensure closed and locked; an unlocked primer can lean the mixture — **IN AND LOCKED**
- [ ] Ignition — cycle through LEFT and RIGHT to identify a failed magneto or broken lead — **CHECK BOTH**
- [ ] Restart attempt — if engine fails to start and forced landing is committed, execute forced landing checklist — **ATTEMPT OR COMMIT TO FORCED LANDING**
- [ ] Mayday call — declare emergency with position, altitude, and intentions — **121.5 MHZ OR LAST ATC FREQUENCY**

## Engine Fire in Flight (EMERGENCY)

- [ ] Mixture `MEMORY` — **IDLE CUT-OFF — starve the engine of fuel immediately**
- [ ] Fuel selector `MEMORY` — **OFF**
- [ ] Throttle `MEMORY` — **FULL OPEN — draw fuel remaining in the induction system away from the fire**
- [ ] Ignition `MEMORY` — **OFF**
- [ ] Master switch `MEMORY` — **OFF**
- [ ] Heater and vents — close all fresh-air vents and cabin heat to reduce airflow feeding the fire `MEMORY` — **CLOSED**
- [ ] Airspeed — increase to a speed that may help extinguish the fire by slipstream; do not exceed Vne `MEMORY` — **INCREASE WITHIN LIMITS**
- [ ] Forced landing — execute forced landing procedure immediately; do not delay for a restart `MEMORY` — **INITIATE FORCED LANDING**

## Engine Fire on Ground (During or After Start) (EMERGENCY)

- [ ] Starter — continue cranking if fire is in the induction system; cranking may draw fire back through the intake `MEMORY` — **CONTINUE CRANKING (induction fire)**
- [ ] Throttle — advance to assist drawing fuel and fire into the engine if induction fire `MEMORY` — **ADVANCE (induction fire only)**
- [ ] Mixture `MEMORY` — **IDLE CUT-OFF**
- [ ] Fuel selector `MEMORY` — **OFF**
- [ ] Ignition `MEMORY` — **OFF**
- [ ] Master switch `MEMORY` — **OFF**
- [ ] Evacuate — exit all occupants immediately; move upwind away from the aircraft `MEMORY` — **EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY**
- [ ] Fire extinguisher — use only if fire is small, accessible, and escape route is clear — **AS ABLE; CALL FIRE SERVICES**

## Electrical Fire / Smoke in Cockpit (EMERGENCY)

- [ ] Master switch `MEMORY` — **OFF — remove all electrical power**
- [ ] Avionics master switch `MEMORY` — **OFF**
- [ ] All electrical switches — lights, fan, pitot heat `MEMORY` — **OFF**
- [ ] Vents — open to vent smoke from cockpit; fresh air assists in clearing fumes `MEMORY` — **OPEN VENTS, CLOSE HEAT**
- [ ] Fire extinguisher — discharge toward source of smoke if identified and accessible — **AS REQUIRED**
- [ ] Land as soon as practicable — smoke or fumes indicate a potential for rapid fire spread; do not delay `MEMORY` — **DIVERT AND LAND**
- [ ] Electrical switches — after smoke clears, restore individual switches one at a time to identify the faulty circuit before landing — **RESTORE SELECTIVELY AS NEEDED**
- [ ] Circuit breakers — do not reset a tripped breaker in flight unless essential for safety; a tripped breaker indicates a fault — **DO NOT RESET UNLESS ESSENTIAL**

## Loss of Oil Pressure (EMERGENCY)

- [ ] Oil pressure gauge — verify indication; cross-check oil temperature for confirming trend `MEMORY` — **VERIFY; CROSS-CHECK OIL TEMP**
- [ ] Throttle — reduce power to minimum needed to maintain flight; lower power reduces engine stress `MEMORY` — **REDUCE TO MINIMUM REQUIRED**
- [ ] Landing area — identify a suitable field or airport within close range; engine seizure may be imminent `MEMORY` — **IDENTIFY NEAREST SUITABLE AREA**
- [ ] Mayday call — declare emergency with position, nature of malfunction, and intentions — **DECLARE EMERGENCY**
- [ ] Land as soon as possible — if pressure is zero or temperature is rising abnormally, do not delay; engine seizure can occur without warning `MEMORY` — **LAND IMMEDIATELY**
- [ ] After landing — do not run the engine; inspect for oil loss before any further operation — **SHUT DOWN AND INSPECT**

## Carburetor Ice (ABNORMAL)

- [ ] Carburetor heat — apply FULL ON at first sign of unexplained RPM loss or engine roughness in cruise or descent `MEMORY` — **FULL ON**
- [ ] RPM — monitor for initial further drop as ice melts and passes through the induction system, followed by recovery — **EXPECT BRIEF DROP THEN RECOVERY**
- [ ] Throttle — avoid large changes while carburetor heat is applied; heat reduces available power — **STABLE THROTTLE**
- [ ] Carburetor heat — leave ON until RPM recovers and stabilizes above original indication; then return to COLD — **LEAVE ON UNTIL RECOVERED; THEN COLD**
- [ ] If RPM does not recover — land as soon as practicable; severe ice accumulation may not fully clear with heat alone `MEMORY` — **DIVERT IF NO RECOVERY**
- [ ] Icing conditions — if conditions are conducive to carburetor ice (temperature between approximately 20 and 70 F with visible moisture or high humidity), apply carburetor heat periodically as a preventive measure — **APPLY PERIODICALLY IN ICING CONDITIONS**

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

- [ ] Best glide airspeed — establish and maintain throughout the approach; do not let speed decay or build excessively `MEMORY` — **ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN PER POH**
- [ ] Landing area — select field considering length, surface, slope, obstacles, and wind direction; commit early `MEMORY` — **SELECTED AND COMMITTED**
- [ ] Mayday call — transmit position, altitude, nature of emergency, and intended landing area — **121.5 MHZ OR LAST ATC FREQUENCY**
- [ ] Transponder — **7700**
- [ ] Fuel selector `MEMORY` — **OFF**
- [ ] Mixture `MEMORY` — **IDLE CUT-OFF**
- [ ] Ignition `MEMORY` — **OFF at short final, prior to flare**
- [ ] Master switch `MEMORY` — **OFF at short final, prior to flare**
- [ ] Seat belts and shoulder harnesses `MEMORY` — **CONFIRM TIGHT ON ALL OCCUPANTS**
- [ ] Doors — unlatch before touchdown to prevent jamming in impact; hold door slightly ajar `MEMORY` — **UNLATCHED BEFORE TOUCHDOWN**
- [ ] Flaps — extend on final as needed to control descent angle and landing speed per POH — **AS REQUIRED FOR FIELD AND CONDITIONS**
- [ ] After landing — evacuate aircraft promptly and move upwind to prevent injury from possible fire — **EVACUATE AND MOVE CLEAR**

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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: 93016fd46fb28dd9014bf960a54a4fe5f618c0e97c137dcd93b452fe3157ea57  
Verify against the aircraft's own approved documentation before use.