Although your PPCL may float for a few minutes, it  will eventually sink. The time before sinking will de - pend on the amount of fuel left, the condition of the  seals on the ends of your tubing, and the air left in  your tires after impact. As soon as you know a water landing is inevitable,  your first step is to align your PPCL into the wind if  possible, and move as close to shore as possible. Considering the flammability of a ram-air wing, it is  easy to realize that in-flight fire —especially an engine  or fuel fire—is one of the most serious emergencies  a PPC pilot can encounter. (Note: An electrical fire  in the front of the cart is unlikely to cause anything  more than an engine failure. Therefore, see “Engine  Failures” above for this specific emergency.) If there  is any sign of fire near the engine, fuel containers, or  fuel lines, do everything possible to reduce the pos- sibilities of the fire spreading and land as soon as pos - sible. The necessary procedures are: Porpoising refers to pitch  oscillations, most notice- able during a landing. These erratic pilot-induced  movements are a result of rapid throttle movements.  This is a common, correctable error pilots need to be  aware of. There is a delay between throttle changes  and pitch changes. Porpoising will result if you over- control the throttle during a landing attempt, causing  pitch oscillations. As a result of over-reacting, the PPC, which is now dangerously close to the ground,  After landing, get far away. The principal danger after  evacuating the PPC is that the fuel will ignite and ex - plode, with the potential to injure people at consider- able distances. 1. Don’t panic. Use the ADM “DECIDE” method. 2. Stay seated. 3. Turn off all electronics. 4. Remove any objects that will delay your  evacuation of the aircraft prior to impact (i.e.,  communication cords, camera straps, etc.). 5. Discard any objects that may penetrate your skin  upon impact (or hit you, such as cameras). 6. Tighten your seatbelt and shoulder harnesses. 7. At approximately 2 seconds (~25 feet) above the  water, bring your head, neck, and legs in as close  to your body as possible. Place your arms along  the side of your head, with your hands over the  lower back of your head. 8. If experienced, you could execute a full flare and  a parachutal-wing stall approximately 3 seconds  (~40 feet) above the water (recommended for  PPCs with foot steering bars only). 9. Once in the water, release your seatbelt and  shoulder harness and exit the cart.  10.Help your passenger with his or her restraints. 11. Do not try to retrieve items on the aircraft or  try to save the aircraft. When surfacing, avoid  the wing and swim to the side of the PPC (if  entangled with the canopy lines, cut them with  the line cutter and work your way to the edge of  the wing).  12.Swim to shore. • Reduce throttle to idle; If possible, shut off fuel valves; • Shut off magnetos; Shut off all electronics; • Land immediately and stop as quickly as  possible; and • Evacuate the aircraft immediately. In-Flight Fire Landing Porpoise Figure 12-9. Porpoising during a landing approach.  12-7