'What the...?'

There's no good time to have an engine failure, but some are better than others. After taking off is never one of them.

Jim Wolper

Tuesday, December 26, 2023 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Multi-engine flight demands immediate, precise, and correct pilot actions during engine failures, especially at low altitudes, as incorrect responses (e.g., using ailerons instead of rudder) can quickly escalate to dangerous situations.
Effective training must instill pre-planned decision-making, correct control inputs (heavy rudder for yaw), and deliberate, checklist-driven engine securing procedures, while actively addressing common, dangerous mistakes.
Pilots must thoroughly understand their specific aircraft's systems, performance characteristics, and emergency procedures, recognizing that older models may present unique complexities and data limitations.
Multi-engine instructors bear a significant responsibility to safely guide students through complex emergency scenarios, emphasizing correct techniques while avoiding undue risks and addressing potential student errors.

See a mistake? Contact us.

The takeoff seemed to go well, right up until the left engine failed. Autofeather quickly had the propeller blades of the failed engine turned to minimize drag. I raised the landing gear; I did not need to worry about flaps because I never take off with flaps in this airplane. The multi-engine pilot’s rosary—power up, clean up, identify, verify, feather—was complete.

So why wouldn’t the airplane climb?