In article
,
Kurt Ullman wrote:

In article ,
Smitty Two wrote:



It is only "considered a crash" by the media. Pilots call that an
"off-field landing." A plane crashes when structural failure or pilot
error causes the plane to no longer be under the control of the pilot.
This was not the case, here.


Wouldn't the engines flying apart be considered structural failure and
turning an airplane into a glider would seem to suggest the pilot isn;t
in control (serious question, honestly)

No. I believe structural failure involves the loss of an airfoil (wing,
horizontal stabilizer, or vertical stabilizer) or the loss of one of the
control surfaces attached to those airfoils (aileron, elevator, or
rudder) which are the movable surfaces used to control the roll, pitch,
and yaw axes.

"Loss of control" means the inability to control the ailerons, elevator,
or rudder - whether or not said surface departs the aircraft - and may
have disastrous consequences.

Engine loss is considered loss of power and does not affect the pilot's
ability to maintain control of the airplane. It only means that the
plane will begin to descend.