Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 35; Flight Crew Total 7600; Flight Crew Type 3000
Communication Breakdown
Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Procedure
As a CFI; I flew with a private pilot at ZZZ airport to conduct the candidate's flight review. We were flying a Cessna 172. At our last takeoff and landing; we departed from Runway XY and as we flew through 700 feet MSL; I asked the candidate what he would do if the engine failed on takeoff at 700 feet. The candidate responded by stating his plan to turn around and land on Runway X. To simulate an engine failure; I reduced the throttle to idle; told the candidate he had lost his engine; and I announced on the UNICOM frequency our intentions. Over UNICOM; I described our intentions as a 'simulated engine failure; landing Runway X; ZZZ.' Neither I nor the candidate heard anyone on the UNICOM frequency announce intentions of taking the active or back taxiing on the runway. Upon reaching the target (the end of Runway X); the candidate and I noticed what appeared to be an aircraft at the end of Runway XY. We were at the end of Runway X at this point and I approximate that we were 25 to 50 feet AGL. I took over the controls and initiated a go-around; sidestepping to the left in order to keep in sight the aircraft on the ground. At mid-field; during our go-around; I noticed the other aircraft initiate its takeoff. We climbed back into the pattern; then landed uneventfully. There were no radio transmissions from the other aircraft. When we were back on the ground; I asked the Dispatcher at the airport office if he had heard any transmissions from the other aircraft. The Dispatcher confirmed that he had heard none. In re-living this incident; I am unable to identify a failure in our aviating or communicating. The one mistake I identified in retrospect is my failure to note the expiration of my medical certificate. My medical certificate had expired four days before the flight. I have since renewed my medical certificate.
GA flight instructor reported a conflict occurred during a simulated engine failure landing at a non-towered airport.