Engine Failure - Can I Mayday on local tower, or must I go to 121.5?

Question

I have my first checkride today! In an engine failure situation, where I must do a forced landing, if I'm still on the tower frequency and in range, can I make my Mayday call on that freq, or must I change over to 121.5?

Answer 1

Whatever you do, if it's a simulated engine failure, do NOT actually make a mayday call.  Tell the examiner "if this were an actual emergency, I would declare an emergency on this frequency."

Answer 2

Coming from the Air Traffic Control point of view you should make it on the frequency that you are on so that they can arrange emergency response viachales / serch and rescue.  121.5 should be used of you are VFR on 1200 and not in contact with an ATC agency.

Answer 3

I taught my students to call whatever freq was active. The best frequency to call is the one that already knows where you are, or can atleast pull you up on radar quickly so you can spend more time finding a landing site rather than giving directions to the crash site. Also don't forget transponder to 7700. I also taught my students mayday because that is how the FAA wants it. Not really used in real flying, but just play along for the checkride then you can do it the right way :-)

Answer 4

well it depends where you are. cos if you were here in Auckland New Zealand then you would be broadcasting on the ELT frequency.

suppose its a good thing though.

I am middle of PPL and im told to flick to 124.3 for Auckland control in the cruise cos our area is uncontrolled.  But on take off I would assume that just announcing a mayday to the tower would be enough. see we only have a unicom not a tower so I really think I should ask my instructor aye. and so should you man. he should tell you. But I think that with the limited time availabe then things will be set up so it doesnt matter what frequency so long as its active. Good luck to you man.

Answer 5

In most engine out situations, you will be too busy flying the airplane and figuring out where to attempt to land to worry about talking on the radio.  Fly the airplane first, and talk to people later.

If you do have time to do it, you can call on the tower, unicom, or other working frequency you are tuned to.

Don't say, "Mayday."  That's a waste of time, and real pilots have not said that since John Wayne made his last movie.  Just identify your aircraft and say what your problem is.  If you have time to say where you are going down, do so.

But as mentioned, most engine failures occur close to the ground and in situations where you won't have time to call anybody.  Just tell it to the county sheriff that shows up.

Answer 6

The tower frequency, in this case.  

--If a call is made at all.  

(Is a Mayday transmission after an engine failure called for in the Practical Test Standards)?