1
$\begingroup$

I curious that from a pilot perspective, what do they really feel when they experience an engine failure that caused by fire ? Can they easily maneuver the aircraft anymore, or will their situational awarenese decrease by time ?

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
1
  • $\begingroup$ Most (not all) engine fires in Airline/Corporate type jet aircraft are extinguished in 60 seconds or less. Is your question assuming that the engine fire cannot be extinguished? Or are you asking about single-engine flight and maneuvering in a twin engine jet? $\endgroup$
    – user22445
    Commented Sep 8, 2022 at 19:24

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
6
$\begingroup$
  • Airplanes and helicopters are designed so that their control does not depend on the engines and they can be controlled even with no engine power.
  • The asymmetric thrust—in twin-engine plane with one engine stopped and the other running at full power—makes control harder and must be properly handled, which is why multi-engine pilots train it. The main problem is that if the plane gets too slow, the rudder won't be efficient enough to compensate for the asymmetry and the plane will roll out of control. This tends to be most difficult on light prop twins as they have the engines relatively further apart and have less excess thrust.
  • It does not really matter why the engine failed, the control problems will be similar. The problem with fire is that it can cause additional damage that can have additional adverse effects and it can get worse over time up to the aircraft falling apart if the fire is not extinguished. Often cutting off the fuel supply is enough to stop the fire since steel and aluminum do not burn, but if not, that's why there are extinguishing systems (at least on transport aircraft).
  • Fire is worse once the aircraft stops. While it's flying, the air stream is blowing the flames away from the structure limiting its spread, but when the plane stops, it can completely burn down in a couple of minutes. That's why there is the 90 seconds evacuation requirement. Still, there were some accidents when continued fire damage resulted in an aircraft eventually falling apart in flight (e.g. the infamous Concorde crash).
  • Situational awareness is a rather different thing. It means not whether the aircraft can be controlled, but rather whether the pilots know what they should and shouldn't do with it. Situational awareness is only going to improve as the pilots find out what the problem is.
Improve this answer
$\endgroup$
3
  • $\begingroup$ For light twin engine airplanes (under 6000 pounds MTOW) certificated under FAR Part 23, there is no requirement for a positive rate of climb or maintaining altitude with one engine inop. Depending on the circumstances (weight, temperature, altitude, etc.) finding a safe landing spot could be the major problem. $\endgroup$
    – user22445
    Commented Sep 8, 2022 at 22:55
  • $\begingroup$ @757toga That is why their minimum speed is a lot lower than that of Part 25 certified designs. A lower minimum speed makes many more fields and roads into possible landing spots. $\endgroup$
    – Peter Kämpf
    Commented Sep 9, 2022 at 5:25
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Like many metals, aluminum can burn if it is a powder. If your aluminum airplane turns to powder, you were already in a lot of trouble. $\endgroup$
    – Anonymous Physicist
    Commented Sep 10, 2022 at 20:05

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .