Critical Engines

[Mtnjam]

Any MEI's out there ever completely shut down and feather the left "critical" engine during training flights?? Say you're gear and flaps are hyraulic and the hyraulic pump is on the left engine. all you have left is a hand pump and an emergency CO-2 Cartridge that will blow the lines and kick the gear down. Also this plane has no accumulator's for the props and it's carburated. Just asking opinions. Me personally have never feathered the critical engine. I've always shut down and feathered the right one.

 

[Canucit]

is that an aztec or apache those are so under powered i would not shut either one down

if it can't fly on one don't even bother shutting one down

thats my two cents worth

 

[Bandit60]

Your right the instructor should not create an emergency.

But if you ask me the critical engine is always the one that is still running. If you lose that your in deep **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED**. (just kidding)

 

[Uncle Sparky]

For an airstart demo, shutting down either one shouldn't be a factor as long as you have plenty of airspeed and altitude. That sounds like a "six in one-half a dozen in the other" dilemna. All of your systems are on the critical engine but you're worried about VMC'ing the thing. Just don't get slow. Keep the nose down and don't get fixated or long-winded on the lesson.
Of course, that's all "what do I think" advice. Make sure the AFM doesn't warn against it and try to contact someone with more experience in the airplane.

 

[averyrm]

is that an aztec or apache those are so under powered i would not shut either one down

if it can't fly on one don't even bother shutting one down

thats my two cents worth

I flew an Aztec, and we shut down the critical engine in flight quite a few times. It's really not that big of a difference from shutting down the non-critical, especially when you're well under gross. I've only shut down the engine with two people on board. We were still able to climb at 8k without any difficulty.

But of course, your mileage may vary.

 

[bobbysamd]

Critical engine shutdown

I shut down either engine in Seminoles plenty of times with no ill effects. Of course, Seminoles don't have a true critical engine, or have engine-powered hydraulic gear systems.

I shut down the true "critical" engine in B58 Barons with no ill effects.

As the others wrote above, shutting down the engine that powers the gear and flap hydraulic systems in Piper aircraft might not be wise.

 

[SMOE]

I fly/teach in a '64 Aztec 250. My school requires shutting down the left engine and letting the student experience the joy of hand pumping the flaps and gear down. No big deal. We just make sure we're at least 3,500 AGL and remain within the local area. If something were to happen to the hydraulics, theres a backup CO2 system to blow the gear down. Well thought out system.

The airplane has plenty of power on one engine and handles almost the same whether it be the left or right engine shutdown. Same goes for the Baron and the C310.

Talking about some procedures is one thing. Experiencing/learning to deal with those procedures is another. We feel using them for the first time while in the weather, single-engine, entering the pattern is not a good place to start.

 

[Fokkerflyer]

Isn't the engine that fails always the critical one?

Sorry, couldn't resist.

FF

 

[DX Rick]

I would be more concerned about the "health" of the aircraft. I have seen Azteks and been in an Travel Air that when shutting down the engine, she doesn't want to fire back up. Niether air start or cranking it will get it going.

Other than that, just make sure you have plenty of altitude and speed.