**[6 Minutes for Safety Topic: Ditching Procedures]{.underline}**

It may come as a surprise to you that when flying in the mountains; the
best emergency landing area may involve a water landing, or commonly
called a ditching. Here are some reminders and helpful hints to prepare
you for this event. The truth is, overall, ditching is one of the most
survivable emergency procedures any pilot can perform. Although survival
rates vary by time of year and water-body type, the overall general
aviation ditching survival rate is 90 percent, and if you ignore blue
water ferry operation statistics, fatalities are actually quite rare. It
is also important to do a little on-line investigation to separate the
facts from the hangar-tales when it regards the best procedures for
ditching.

**Pick a spot**: Good Situational Awareness and constant use of "What
If" scenarios during flight operations will provide a head start to a
favorable outcome if an emergency occurs. As in any emergency landing,
the most difficult decision may be in picking the best spot to land.
Assuming you have exhausted all other options and an emergency landing
is imminent, your next task is to pick the best available spot. In steep
terrain, the bottom of the canyon is often the best spot, and it may be
wet. Use the time during glide or auto rotation to look for calm water
or pools in a river. Ponds or small lakes make even better landing
areas. This offers the chance for a simple egress from the aircraft.

**Rivers and Streams**: Water current's can be a problem during landing.
Try to land down-stream when possible. Lower speed relative to the
direction of the aircraft helps to avoid flipping upside down during
landing. Use the combination of lowest airspeed with the direction of
water flow for ditching.

**Lakes:** Over large bodies of water try to land parallel to the
shoreline. This gives best reference to height above the surface during
the flair, and offers the least distance to shore for swimmers. If surf
or swells are present, set up your final approach to land parallel to
the swell, ideally landing at the peak of the swell while avoiding
dragging the wing tips in water. Lakes will generally offer time to get
set up into the prevailing wind.

**Egress:** Once in the water, be prepared for any number of egress
situations. The aircraft may be floating if lucky, and it may float long
enough to make a planned escape with survival equipment.

If the door cannot be opened because of water pressure from outside the
cabin, open a window and wait for water entering the cabin to equalize
the pressure. The door should then open quite easily. If it still cannot
be opened because of structural jamming, someone should crawl into the
back of the cabin (where a pocket of air usually can be found). They
should place their back against one side of the cabin, extend legs and
push out a window on the other side with their feet.

**Hypothermia:** A disabling condition in which the temperature of the
human body drops below normal (98.6 degrees F). Hypothermia occurs most
rapidly when the body is immersed in cold water because water carries
off body heat much more rapidly than does air.

When body temperature drops to 96 degrees F, shivering becomes
uncontrollable; below 90 degrees F, shivering gives way to muscular
rigidity and impaired mental acuity. With a body temperature of less
than 80 degrees F, the average person loses consciousness and eventually
experiences heart failure.

Although the ability to endure hypothermia varies among individuals and
circumstances, the U.S. Navy claims that no one can survive in 32
degrees F water for more than one hour. As water temperature increases,
however, the likelihood of survival increases dramatically. But
hypothermia can occur eventually even when the water is relatively warm,
especially if exposed to constant wind.

**Ditching Checklist: This is not intended to be all inclusive, but a
thought jogger!!**

Establish best glide, or autorotation airspeed

Broadcast mayday and intentions

Prepare passengers for ditching

Secure all loose items in the cabin

Secure seatbelts and harnesses

Open all doors, jettison doors if able

Open windows and emergency escape hatches

Use available power to maintain control of the approach and flair

Use a nose-high approach angle with minimal airspeed at touchdown

If aircraft has retractable gear, land gear-up

Fly the aircraft until all motion is stopped

**Egress Checklist:**

Upon impact, take a deep breath, wait for motion to stop

Wait for 5 to 10 seconds for bubbles to settle before unlatching
seatbelt

Unlatch seatbelt, assist passengers with belts if able, and use caution
if inverted

If totally submerged, be mentally prepared for lack of visibility and
disorientation

Locate nearest exit, door or window then exit

If doors are jammed, open windows enough to allow water pressure to
equalize

Follow bubbles to surface

Orient yourself to location and direction to shore, and location of
survival gear

Gather survivors, direct them to shore

In conclusion: All things considered, when faced with landing on the
water or impacting trees, rocks, or other rough surfaces, the water is
more likely to be survivable. Where this might come into play is during
an emergency landing where the choice may be between a rough
mountainside or wooded area and a small expanse of open water. This
should be no contest; the water wins.

References: [section 6-3-3 in the
AIM](http://www.faa.gov/atpubs/aim/p0603003.htm) (Aeronautical
Information Manual) describing safe ditching procedures