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Showing results for tags 'engine failure on takeoff'.
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Crazy that I was almost a witness to the dreaded 180 turn to back to the airport after power loss on takeoff this evening... Fortunately, the plane produced partial power during the maneuver. Here's the story. After starting up after a visit with my fiancee' in French Valley--F70--I announced my taxi intentions to go get some fuel. The other airplane--a Cessna 172--was conducting/finishing a high speed taxi and when I heard that he had no brakes when exiting the runway. I came to a stop and let him have as much room as needed, as we would have collided, if I hadn't given way. I followed him over to the fuel farm that just happened to be close to a gaggle of onlookers and probably his A&P. After waiting for a Baron to fill-up, I taxied to the pump and as I was getting out. The 172 taxied by on the way to runway 18. I'm not sure how he fixed the brakes that fast but who am I to judge. After fueling, I started up and commenced to taxi. Before I could get very far, I heard over the radio "French Valley, I've lost power and I'm returning to the runway." That was followed by someone on frequency, to clear the runway and taxiways. I held my position and broke out the phone to record and as I was doing that the pilot announced that he now had partial power. He made an uneventful landing on 36 thank goodness... After seeing that he was taxiing back towards me, I turned down a row of planes, as to separate us. Sorry parked planes but I need some kind of shield as we crossed each others tracks. All I can say is that witnessing this event was crazy and sobering at the same time. I had an uneventful flight home but I was mentally on edge until I pulled off the runway... Sorry for the blurry picture, it came from video that was rotated 90°.