may quickly put the glider in a position in which the pilot is  unable to clear obstacles, such as wires, poles, hangars, or  nearby terrain. If a full power takeoff or climb is interrupted  by power loss, it is best to make a precautionary landing. The  pilot can sort out the power system problems after returning  safely to the ground. engine restart, for example, many self-launching gliders  require that the propeller blades be placed in a particular  blade pitch position. If the propeller blades cannot be properly  adjusted, then the propeller will not deliver enough torque to  start the engine. The result is a failure to obtain an air-driven  engine start. Power loss during takeoff roll or climb are serious problems,  but they are not the only types of problems that may confront  the pilot of a self-launching glider. Other engine failures  include an engine that refuses to start in response to airborne  start attempts. This is a serious problem if the terrain below  is unsuitable for a safe off-field landing. An electrical system failure in a self-launching glider may  make it impossible to control the propeller pitch if the  propeller is electrically controlled. It may also result in the  inability to deploy a pod engine successfully for an air restart  attempt. Self-launching gliders that require a functioning  electric starter for an air restart are unable to resume flight  under power. If an airport is within gliding range, an on- airport precautionary landing can be made. If there is no  airport within gliding range and the flight can be safely  continued without electrical power, the pilot may be able to  soar to the vicinity of an airport and land safely. If no airport  is within gliding range and flight cannot be sustained without  power, an emergency off-airport landing has to be made. One of the great advantages of the self-launching glider is having the option to terminate a soaring flight by starting  the engine and flying to an airport/gliderport for landing.  Nearly all self-launching gliders have a procedure designed  to start the engine while airborne. This procedure would be  most valuable during a soaring flight with engine off during  which the soaring conditions have weakened. The prospect  of starting the engine and flying home safely is ideal under  such conditions.  Some self-launching gliders are occasionally used for  night flight, cruising under power. All night flights must be  conducted in accordance with FAA regulation and the glider  must have the appropriate aeronautical lighting required for  night time operations (14 CFR part 91, section 91.209). If  carrying a passenger(s), the pilot must be qualified to operate  the glider at night in accordance with 14 CFR part 61,  section 61.57(b).  As a precaution, an airborne engine start should be attempted  at an altitude high enough that, if a malfunction occurs, there  is sufficient time to take corrective action. If the engine fails  to start promptly, or fails to start at all, there may be little  time to plan for a safe landing. If there is no landable area  below, then failure to start the engine results in an emergency  off-field landing in unsuitable terrain. Glider damage and  personal injury may result. To avoid these dangers, self- launching glider pilots should never allow themselves to  get into a situation that can only be resolved by starting the  engine and flying up and away. It is best to keep a landable  field always within easy gliding range.  If an electrical system failure occurs during night operations,  pilots of nearby aircraft are not able to see the self-launching  glider due to the extinguished position lights. Inside  the cockpit, it is difficult or impossible to see the flight  instruments or electrical circuit breakers. According to 14  CFR part 135, section 135.159(f), and part 121, section  121.549(b), the FAA requires that commercial and airline  pilots have a flashlight “having at least two size D cells or  equivalent” for such an emergency. It makes good practical  sense for other pilots to follow the same rules. There are many reasons that a self-launching glider engine  may fail to start or fail to provide full power in response to  efforts to resume full power operations while airborne. These  include lack of fuel or ignition, low engine temperature due  to cold soak, low battery output due to low temperatures or  battery exhaustion, fuel vapor lock, lack of propeller response  to blade pitch controls, and other factors. It is important for  the pilot to have an emergency plan in the event that full  engine power is not available during any phase of flight. If smoke or the smell of smoke is present, make no attempt  to reset any circuit breakers. In accordance with CE-10- 11R, Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin, dated  January 14, 2010, and available for download at http://rgl. faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgSAIB.nsf/ (LookupSAIBs)/CE-10-11R1?OpenDocument, the best  and safest practice is to not reset circuit breakers in the  air unless absolutely necessary for safe flight. Resetting a  circuit breaker may result in a greater overload and possible  fire.  [Figure 8-19]  Head directly for the nearest airport and  Propeller failures include propeller damage and disintegration,  propeller drive belt or drive gear failure, or failure of the  variable blade pitch control system. To perform an air-driven  Self-Launching Glider Propeller Malfunctions 8-27 Self-Launching Glider Electrical System  Malfunctions Inability to Restart a Self-Launching/Sustainer  Glider Engine While Airborne