Aviaze Lessons Learned - Engine Faillure

John FRANKLIN • 14 November 2020

in community General Aviation

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Thanks to Marc and the team at Aviaze the latest "Lessons Learned" episode covers the subject of Engine Failure in a light twin aircraft. Watch the video, take into account the key points at the bottom and share it with other pilots.

In March 2019, an instructor and a student pilot took off from the Rand Aerodrome in South Africa. They were off to practice asymmetric circuits, on a Twin Comanche. Due to an engine failure, the aircraft was completely destroyed. Fortunately, the crew only sustained minor injuries. Learn what they did correctly and how to be prepared if this happens to you.

The key "Lessons Learned" are:

If you are unlucky enough to lose an engine in a light twin during the take-off, the margin for error is very small. Identiffy the failed engine rapidly and accurately. The propeller must be feathered whilst keeping the airspeed at the “blue line”. Promptly restracting the undercarriage can be vital.
Be ready especially on take-off. With an engine failure on take-off make sure to have planned emergency landing sites in front of you. As discussed in the Sunny Swift episode on the "Impossible Turn", never try to make it back to the airfield.

Comments (4)

Patrick L • 3 years ago

I can recommend this on the topic:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oD3YPdOH5Xo
This is the full video of a ground school session with Doug Rozendaal, an experienced flight instructor, pilot examiner and airshow pilot, introducing me to the world of multi engine flying. Sections (with links to jump there quickly) are as follows:

00:00 Opening
01:07 ACS Airman Certification Standards
10:31 VMC - minimum control speed
35:46 VYSE - speed for best rate of climb (single engine)
41:51 The Drill (loss of engine)
1:05:01 Turns towards the good engine
1:08:59 Take-off briefing
1:13:38 Systems
1:17:02 Take-off, climb, landing

Recorded during actual multi-engine instruction, this video is an add-on to the shorter ones called "Part I: The Drill" and "Part II: VMC". Together, they will help you understand what you need to know to make flying twins as safe as it can be.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_KGu2CFUU4
Watch and learn as Doug Rozendaal, an experienced flight instructor, pilot examiner and airshow pilot, takes us through "The Drill", the immediate steps required to quickly and safely reconfigure a twin-engine aircraft for single-engine flying after the failure of an engine.

Multi-engine flying is fun and easy with both engines running, but when one engine fails, it can be a handful. Doug is very passionate about "The Drill", and about practicing it regularly in recurrent training - and I believe after watching this video, you will have to agree.

Recorded during actual multi-engine instruction in Doug's Beechcraft Baron, this video as well as the one on VMC (minimum control speed) will help you understand what you need to know to make flying twins as safe as it can be.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcEg39NmxY4
Doug Rozendaal, an experienced flight instructor, pilot examiner and airshow pilot, explains VMC or minimum control speed in this second part of the multi-engine training series. Learn about multi-engine aerodynamics, and understand how to avoid a spin and crash. This video will teach you how to recognize approaching VMC and how to quickly and safely recover from the situation.

Recorded during actual multi-engine instruction in Doug's Beechcraft Baron, this video as well as the one on "The Drill" (feather & shutdown an inoperative engine) will help you understand what you need to know to make flying twins as safe as it can be.

John FRANKLIN • 3 years ago

Thanks for sharing these excellent resources.

Michel MASSON • 3 years ago

Thanks, all.
There are lessons to be learned for pilots and for mechanics.

Power, as well as mass and balance, play essential roles at take-off.
Or in other words, for keeping or losing control at take-off.

Let's remind that aircraft accidents happen "in the outside world out there", subject to the laws of physics.

I was working in a company based in Charles de Gaulle airport when the Concorde suffered its fatal loss of power at take-off accident on 25 July 2000: a tragedy I will always remember!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_France_Flight_4590

Fortunately, not all loss of power at take-off cases, including asymetrical ones, are unrecoverable.
Hence the importance of learning and mastering the right recovery techniques.
Here again, training is essential!

Patrick L • 3 years ago

This is also worth watching

https://youtu.be/Wbu6X0hSnBY

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