Deadstick landing
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A deadstick landing or forced landing occurs when an aircraft loses all of its propulsive power and is forced to land. This is something of a misnomer, as the flight controls in the majority of aircraft are at least partially functional even with no engine power; it is not the "stick" (flight control surface) that is "dead," but rather the engine(s). All aircraft have some capability to glide with no engine power; that is, they do not sink straight down like a stone, but rather continue to fly horizontally while descending. It is the pilot's goal to fly the descending aircraft to the most suitable (or least unsuitable) landing spot within gliding distance, and then land with the least amount of damage possible.
The success of the deadstick landing largely depends on the availability of suitable landing areas. A competent pilot gliding a relatively light, slow plane to a flat field or runway should result in an otherwise normal landing. A heavier, faster aircraft or a plane gliding into mountains and/or trees could result in substantial damage.
With helicopters, a forced landing is sometimes known as autorotation, since the helicopter glides by allowing its rotor to spin freely during the descent thus generating lift.
When an aircraft is forced to land away from a suitably-prepared landing site but with some or all of its propulsive power still available, it is known as a precautionary landing.
