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Engine Failure while Holding

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uwochris

Flightinfo's sexiest user
Joined
Dec 21, 2001
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381
Hey guys,

Let's say you have been cleared to enter a hold, and just as you enter it (i.e. as you cross the beacon/VOR/etc), you experience an engine failure in a twin.

Is it best to continue in the turn and try to manage the a/c, or, is it better to level out and go through the procedures? What about if the engine fails prior to crossing the fix while you are already in the hold?

My only concern about levelling off would be that you could risk getting outside of your protected airspace; however, trying to secure an engine failure while you are turning would not be very easy either.

What's the best option?

Thanks in advance!
 
What about altitude? There's a guy below you at 5 thousand holding, you were assigned 6 thousand.
 
An emergency is that an emergency, you have to take into account all factors. Are you in icing? As somebody said before is there traffic below you? Which part of the hold are you in, are you turning or are you straight. Personaly I wouldn't want to leave the holding pattern until I have things a little under control. Possibly flying a procedure for an approach while trying to deal with an engine failure isn't fun. I would get the aircraft under control, let ATC know what's going on ASAP and deal with the situation, once you either get the problem fixed or get the dead engine feathered then leave the hold. The key is to keep control of the situation and know where you are spacialy located.

-Brian
 
It must depend on the circumstances. In an underpowered piston twin above its service ceiling, do you have any choice? You might be lucky to be able to control direction at all if you let things get out of hand.
In a twinjet or turboprop on a vfr day I know some that wouldn't even declare; 'situation normal'!
Do what you have to do in order to ensure the safety of the ship, and advice atc accordingly.
 
First and foremost, fly the airplane. Then consider the circumstances.

If you're holding and experience an engine failure, your first thought is to maintain control of the aircraft. Handle the emergency. Perhaps you're in an aircraft and circumstance in which the engine failure represents a need for immediate action. You're in a light twin, can no longer maintain altitude. You were experiencing light ice, and you no longer have the equipment available to handle the ice and your instruments, due to the failure. You can't stay in the hold, and you shouldn't try.

Fly the airplane, notify ATC, and do whatever you must to ensure the safe operation of the flight. You should already have a general idea of where you're going to go (after all, what would you do if you lost contact with ATC...can't rely on ATC to be there to get you to an emergency field). Ask for what help you need, and inform ATC of your intentions.

On the other hand, you're in the hold or entering the hold and experience the failure, continue in the entry or in the hold as you deal with the situation. You're in an aircraft that is very capable of continuing on the remaining power. You keep flying the airplane, handle the shutdown, do what you must. You operate in terms of your track just as nothing happened, while you do what you need to do. Notify ATC of your situation, and your intentions.

Conversely, you're in a single engine airplane and the failure happens...your choices are largely set out ahead of you. You're descending. Your actions? Continue flying the airplane, notify ATC of your intentions as opportunity permits, and go right on flying the airplane.

There's a common thread...fly the airplane. If you're capable of continuing in the hold while you complete your proceedures, do so. It's part of flying the airplane. If physics and circumstance dictate that you're unable to continue in the hold, then you need to do whatever is necessary to secure the safe operation of the aircraft. If that means an immediate descent, an immediate diversion, whatever...then do that.

However, if your circumstance doesn't warrant deviating from the hold immediately, then don't. Deviate from your normal, routine proceedures only so far as necessary to handle the situation. Even in an emergency, the more routine and standard you can make your actions, the better your ability to handle and simplify the situation...which makes for a safer you, and a safer outcome.
 
avbug said:
First and foremost, fly the airplane. Then consider the circumstances.

...if your circumstance doesn't warrant deviating from the hold immediately, then don't. Deviate from your normal, routine proceedures only so far as necessary to handle the situation. Even in an emergency, the more routine and standard you can make your actions, the better your ability to handle and simplify the situation...which makes for a safer you, and a safer outcome.

Yes to all of that.

Flying the airplane comes first. That includes remaining in the protected airspace if you can. Entering/maintaining the hold is probably almost second nature, so continue along those lines if your aircraft is capable of it. This will give you time to deal with the EP, talk to ATC, and have all your "stuff" in one sock before you put the aircraft any closer to the ground.

Once you've got that under control, start troubleshooting the problem while maintaining aircraft control. Work through your checklists and emergency procedures.

Once you have worked the problem and have an accurate assessment of what's going on, land. Trying to do step 3 before having the first 2 knocked will just put you in a dangerous situation close to the ground.
 
Fly the airplane then declare an emergency and land. An engine failure on a twin is an emergency, period, end of discussion.

of course, highly desired is to carefully thumb thru redbox items and complete checklists, but the situation dictates that. Loose an engine in the sim on a FAA ride, on ILS short final, and if you reach for the "engine out" checklist instead of just flying it and landing, you are asking for a lecture after the ride is over.
 
Last edited:
satpak77 said:
Fly the airplane then declare an emergency and land. An engine failure on a twin is an emergency, period, end of discussion.

of course, highly desired is to carefully thumb thru redbox items and complete checklists, but the situation dictates that. Loose an engine in the sim on a FAA ride, on ILS short final, and if you reach for the "engine out" checklist instead of just flying it and landing, you are asking for a lecture after the ride is over.
If I was riding shotgun with some pilot in a plane and he/she started trying to read how to fly an airplane during an emergency, I'd probably web hand or ridge hand him across the esophagus to help jog his memory.
 

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