Just Breathe

"Life is not what you expect: it is made up of the most unexpected twists and turns." - Ilaiyaraaja

View of the mountains as you pop through the clouds in a Cessna 172 airplane.  Circa 2009.

It's a beautiful summer day, bright blue sky, very few clouds, with the mountains towering only a few miles to the west, wind is calm.  The airplane is currently in the runup area at the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan airport (KBJC) along with multiple other aircraft all getting ready for takeoff.  It's a busy day and there's lot of traffic going in and out of the airport with a big mix of small prop aircraft, corporate jets, military planes and everything in-between.  James is training for his commercial pilots license so the plan is to takeoff and head north of the airport, practice some commercial license maneuvers for an hour then come back to the same airport.  James is the pilot in command (PIC).

JAMES

(to instructor)

(Heavy radio traffic in the background)

Runup complete, you ready to rock?

INSTRUCTOR

Yup, let's do this.

(Instructor closes and latches cockpit door to his right)

(James closes and latches the small window to his left)

INSTRUCTOR

Door is closed and latched.

JAMES

(keys up microphone)

Metro Tower, Arrow niner-two-two-delta-bravo at one-one left, ready for takeoff, northbound departure.

TOWER

Arrow niner-two-two-delta-bravo roger, hold short one-one left landing traffic.

JAMES

(adds a small amount of power to move the airplane to the runway hold line, pointing the nose towards the approaching landing traffic and the mountains)

Hold short one-one left, two-delta-bravo, landing traffic in-sight.

(James points to the landing traffic with his finger)

(Instructor nods head in acknowledgement)

TOWER

Cessna eight-two-two-romeo alpha cleared to land, one-one left, traffic is holding short.

N822RA

Cleared to land, one-one left, two-romeo-alpha.

TOWER

Arrow niner-two-two-delta-bravo, do you need time on the runway?

JAMES

Negative, we're ready to roll, two-delta-bravo.

TOWER

Roger, I'll get you out after this arrival, next traffic is a Citation currently on a five mile left base.

JAMES

Roger, two-delta-bravo!

TOWER

Citation eight-tree-fife-charlie-whisky, traffic will be departing before your arrival.

N835CW

Roger, five-charlie-whisky.

INSTRUCTOR

OOOOOHHHHHH that was a hard landing, flared a bit too high.

(said to James while watching N822RA land in front of them)

JAMES

(laughs and glances over at the instructor)

Always judging aren't you?

INSTRUCTOR

(laughs)

It's what we do!

TOWER

(said in an expeditious fashion)

Arrow niner-two-two-delta-bravo cleared for takeoff runway one-one left, fly runway heading, landing traffic is currently on a three mile left base turning final.

JAMES

Cleared for takeoff, one-one left, two-delta-bravo.

(adds throttle to move onto the runway while responding)

JAMES

(to instructor)

I don't see them, you?

INSTRUCTOR

(no hesitation)

Yeah I got them in sight, they're turning final.

(Instructor points to them)

(James nods and adds more throttle to quickly move the airplane onto the runway)

JAMES

(to instructor)

Let's go!

JAMES

(to instructor)

Lights (turns strobes and landing light on)

JAMES

(to instructor)

Camera (turns transponder to alt)

JAMES

(airplane lines up on centerline of runway)

(to instructor)

Heading is 110 (sets heading bug), compass matches (points to compass), heading bug set for runway heading, here we go, balls to the wall!

(James adds full throttle)

(airplane quickly starts accelerating down the runway)

JAMES

(quickly glancing at instruments but mostly looking down the runway and making small adjustments to rudders)

Airspeed's alive, engine's all in the green.

(airplane's moving faster and faster down the runway)

JAMES

Vr

(slowly pulls back on yoke and airplane lifts into the air)

(Heavy radio traffic still in the background)

JAMES

Positive rate of climb, gear up

(moves landing gear knob to up)

(sound of landing gear retracting)

(landing gear lights go from red to out and the landing gear sound stops)

JAMES

Gear's up, pitching for Vy.

(takes hand off of landing gear knob and puts it back on throttle)

Very loud PING followed by a light smack both of which echo throughout the entire cockpit.

(James and Instructor both quickly whip their heads to glance at each other).

JAMES AND INSTRUCTOR

(at the same time to each other)

What was that?

Before either can answer they both see something out the windshield, both of their heads snap forward, and they watch a part of the airplane fly off and go over the top of the airplane, just a foot or two in front of them, narrowly missing the windshield, both of their heads follow the path of the debris over the top of the airplane.

JAMES

What the fuck?

INSTRUCTOR

No idea.

JAMES

(takes a deep breathe while scanning instrument panel)

Engine's still looking good, oil's in the green, temp is in the green, manifold pressure's good, still got a positive rate of climb.

(the airplane is currently only 100 feet above the ground and the ground is very visible on all sides of the airplane)

INSTRUCTOR

Yup, everything's still looking okay to me too.

JAMES

We're going back to land though.

(Heavy radio traffic still in the background)

INSTRUCTOR

Agreed.

JAMES

I got traffic on left downwind in-sight, do you see anyone else?

(lightly slips the airplane to the left to dip the left wing down for increased visibility while flying straight ahead and maintaining a climb).

(aircraft is now 400 feet above the ground)

INSTRUCTOR

Nope, that's the only traffic, turn now.

(James slowly turns the plane to the left, keeping a close eye on the traffic while constantly glancing at the engine instruments).

JAMES

(gets a short break in the heavy radio traffic and keys up the radio)

(in a hurried tone while turning upwind to crosswind)

Tower, two-delta-bravo, Mayday Mayday Mayday, turning left crosswind now, traffic on downwind in-sight, need to land immediately one-one left, roll the trucks, fod* on runway, fod on runway.

(double click on the radio is audible directly after James unkeys the microphone)

(radio starts squealing from multiple people talking on the radio at the same time, nothing is audible)

TOWER

(after multiple radio squeals)

(also in a hurried tone)

Arrow niner-two-two-delta-bravo, left traffic approved follow downwind traffic, state the nature of your emergency?

JAMES

(keys up mic)

Standby, something flew off the plane, not sure what's going on, fod on runway, landing traffic, fod on runway, two-delta-bravo.

(aircraft is now 600 feet above the ground)

JAMES

(to instructor)

Downwind traffic still in-sight, turning downwind.

(Instructor gives a thumbs up on the dash and James acknowledges with a head nod).

(James slowly turns the airplane to the left to turn from crosswind to downwind).

TOWER

Citation eight-tree-fife-charlie-whisky, use caution, fod reported on runway.

N835CW

(very quietly and quickly)

Roger.

TOWER

Arrow niner-two-two-delta-bravo, state the nature of the emergency, souls on board, and fuel remaining.

JAMES

(quickly keys up mic)

(said loudly)

Standby

(unkeys mic)

JAMES

(to instructor)

Don't they know we're a little busy?

(Instructor laughs)

(James levels the wings out on downwind, aircraft is still climbing)

(aircraft is now 800 feet above the ground)

JAMES

(to instructor)

1,000 feet, traffic's still in sight

(James levels out the climb and slowly pulls back the throttle)

JAMES

Engine still looks good, temp's good, oil pressure's good, manifold is good, all controls are responsive.

(pushes ailerons and rudders quickly and firmly to both sides to confirm)

Do you see anything odd?

INSTRUCTOR

Nope, looking good.

(Heavy radio traffic still in the background as everyone gets switched to the other runway, one-one right and new incoming traffic is being told to stay outside of airspace).

TOWER

Cessna one-two-six-eight-fife, faster traffic behind you has an emergency, turning you to the north, turn north now, we'll get you back for one-one right.

N12685

Turning north now, six-eight-five.

N835CW

(calm, cool and nonchalant)

Tower, five-charlie-whisky, turning off at Alpha five, fod is on the runway, just past alpha five, directly on the centerline... impressive.

TOWER

Eight-tree-fife-charlie-whisky, roger, thank you, contact ground one-two-one point seven.

N835CW

One-two-one point seven, five-charlie-whisky... good luck on the landing.

JAMES

(double taps mic to acknowledge)

(then keys up mic)

(in a slightly annoyed voice)

Tower, two-delta-bravo, nature of the emergency is something flew off of the airplane, 2 souls on board, 4 hours and 30 minutes of fuel remaining.

TOWER

Arrow niner-two-delta-bravo, roger, fod is directly on the runway just past alpha fife, do you want runway one-one right instead?

(James and Instructor are both shaking their heads no to each other)

JAMES

Negative, staying with one-one left.

TOWER

Roger, Arrow niner-two-two-delta-bravo, cleared to land runway one-one left, trucks are on their way.

JAMES

Cleared to land one-one left, two-delta-bravo.

JAMES

(to instructor)

We're going to land right before the thousand footers and I'm going to keep it tight and high then drop it in-case the engine starts acting up, we'll have plenty of time to stop before alpha five.

INSTRUCTOR

Cool, lets see it.

JAMES

You're judging aren't you.

INSTRUCTOR

Always!

(James laughs)

JAMES

(to instructor)

Abeam the thousand footers, gear down... it better go down. (moves landing gear knob to down position)

(sound of landing gear moving)

JAMES

Three green! Gear's down and locked, here we go!

(reduces throttle and pitches nose down)

(James makes a tight turn to the left for left base)

(heavy radio traffic still going on in the background)

JAMES

(levels wings out on left base)

Everything's still looking good, airspeed's good, turning final.

(James makes a tight turn to the left for final)

(slowly reduces throttle further and pitches nose down more)

JAMES

(levels wings out on final, reduces throttle more and pitches nose down more)

(quickly to instructor, keeping eyes on runway, left hand on yolk and right hand on throttle)

Check-out our welcome party!

Several fire trucks with their lights flashing line the side of the runway

(airplane touches down solidly just before the thousand footers)

(James very firmly presses the brakes and pulls back on the yolk)

(airplane quickly comes to a crawl)

JAMES

(keys up mic)

Tower, two-delta-bravo, turning off on Alpha five.

TOWER

Arrow niner-two-two-delta-bravo roger, do you need any assistance?

JAMES

(keys up mic)

Negative, we're good, two-delta-bravo.

(James presses left rudder to turn plane onto alpha five)

TOWER

Arrow niner-two-two-delta-bravo, roger, contact ground one-two-one point seven.

JAMES

(keys up mic)

One-two-one point seven two-delta-bravo and the fod is just past alpha five directly on the runway.

(James points to it and instructor nods)

TOWER

Roger, ops will be grabbing it shortly and they'll bring it out to you on the ramp.

(James double clicks radio mic to acknowledge as the airplane taxis between two firetrucks).

(James and instructor wave to the firefighters while taxiing by and they wave back).

Airplane taxis to the ramp, right as the engine is shut down, airport ops rolls up in their ops truck.

(Instructor and James both climb out of the airplane through the single door)

AIRPORT OPS

(gets out of truck and walks towards airplane)

(in a loud and excited voice)

I think you all might be missing this (holds out the airplane panel)!

(James laughs)

JAMES

(walking towards the airport ops truck)

We are missing that, thank you very much (grabs the panel and looks at it)!

JAMES

(yells back to the instructor who is by the airplane and is tying it down)

It's the oil door, how the hell did that come off?

(Instructor shakes his head and is laughing)

INSTRUCTOR

(yells back to James)

The oil door?  I have no idea.

JAMES

(to airport ops)

Thanks again

(turns around and walks back to the airplane while examining the oil door in his hands)

James and instructor are both examining the oil door in their hands and the hole in the cowling.

INSTRUCTOR

(still examining)

Doesn't look like anything hit it.

INSTRUCTOR

Looks like the pin somehow came out, which explains the sound we heard before it flew off, the pin probably hit the windshield.

I've never seen anything like this happen before.

JAMES

Well at least it should be an easy fix.

(James and instructor both walk around the airplane examining it closely)

JAMES

It doesn't look like there's any damage anywhere else, even the vertical stabilizer looks damage free.. surprisingly.

INSTRUCTOR

Yeah, I don't see any damage either.

JAMES

That was a hell of a flight, eh?

INSTRUCTOR

It was, but you did a good job, I didn't need to do anything.

(instructor holds out fist for a fist bump)

(James and instructor fist bump)

(James and instructor finish up tying down and locking-up the airplane then they walk down the ramp)

From takeoff to landing that all occurred within about 4 minutes, maybe less.  What started out as a completely normal flight where we were going to go up to the North, practice some commercial maneuvers and come back, turned into a very unexpected emergency directly after takeoff and very close to the ground.  What isn't heard in that conversation are the deep breathes that were taken while initially scanning the engine instruments trying to sort out what was going on.  Those deep breathes combined with the adrenaline that your body immediately shoots out into your system narrows the focus of your mind to that exact second as your brain processes everything going on to try and solve the problem.  Allowing you to focus on what is happening at that exact second, not what did happen and not what will happen but what is occurring right this very second.

Deep breathing is a wonderous trick that was taught to me while training for my private pilots license as a way of slowing down your brain during an emergency.  It works like a charm, especially if you can train your body to do this automatically whenever a stressful situation presents itself.  Recently there has been a lot of new research looking into different breathing techniques and the various effects on your body, it's quite fascinating stuff.

Even if the situation above is just a bunch of jargon and doesn't make much sense to you, the situation as a whole can still be understood from it.  Airplane took off... crap hit the fan fast and close to the ground directly after takeoff... airplane landed at the same airport... all ended well.  Even though this particular and unexpected situation did end well, it could have very easily turned south quickly, especially when you're only within a few hundred feet of the ground during one of the most vulnerable phases of flight while going over 100 miles per hour.

Deep breathes plus relying on your training works wonders.  That applies to life just as much as it applies to flying airplanes.

When life throws a huge curveball at you: just breathe and follow your instincts.

*FOD = Foreign Object Debris - any debris that is on the airport environment such as on the runways or taxiways and can cause extensive damage to airplanes if the debris get sucked into the engines (even a lone screw can destroy an engine).  Not to mention that debris can easily puncture tires and cause airplanes traveling at high speeds to go off the runway which can very easily hurt people.  Having foreign objects on runways causes a very serious problem to all aircraft.

Vr = Rotation airspeed

Vy = Best rate of climb

Side Note: At least this wasn't a single engine failure directly after rotation (Vr) in a multi-engine airplane.  That is one of the worst things that can happen to you directly after takeoff and just so happened to be my absolute favorite scenario to practice in a simulator during my flying days.  Although an unprecedented double engine failure in an airliner in the middle of a giant city while also being very close to the ground is pretty bad too.  Next time you find yourself at a bar, be sure to order a Sully Sullenberger drink: two shots of gray goose and a splash of water!

Extra Side Note:  Everyone always seems to wonder why pilots always sound ridiculously calm during any emergency.  That's because all pilots do during their training is train for emergencies, day after day, all the time.  So when an actual emergency does happen, it is literally just another day, just like you've done throughout your entire training, it does not come as a surprise at all.  Even if it's an emergency that nobody has ever thought possible to happen (which has happened a lot in aviation history), you just go with the flow and deal with it, it's what you're trained to do.