An automatic head retract system for a disk drive. The system operates in response to electric power turn off to retract the heads to a landing zone on the disk surface. The heads are retracted by operating a positioner motor under the control of logic internal to the disk drive unit without intervention by a host computer. The positioner motor comprises a multiphase DC brushless motor which, after power loss, is supplied with current from a capacitor charged during normal drive usage, and by the back EMF of a spindle motor. A latch mechanically locks the heads in the landing zone.