RCU Forums - View Single Post - Flying a Twin....How to handle an engine failure.....
Old 04-19-2003 | 10:57 PM
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twinman
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From: Katy, TX
Default Aerobatic Engine out

OK I'm in and I think this is a good idea to share experience.
I have several "Bashed Twin Trainers" that are over powered for aerobatic work.

DO NOT DO WHAT I AM DESCRIBING!!!!

My favorite take off with these planes is gaining as much speed on the ground as possible. (After the manditory vertical test at full throttle for 10 seconds) Max airspeed is to give me control in the event of engine failure. Always take off aimed away from the flight line to do this. Never take off parallel to the flight line.
I take off straight up, rolling straight up, and into inverted flight and roll out level at altitude.
Sounds neat, looks great, but...very dangerous for long plane life.
Here is what happens if ( And when) one engine dies going straight up.
As other posts talk about, the inverted snap roll is often the result of engine loss. High power and slow speeds make this worse. ( Slow speeds can also, in the above manuver, mean hanging on the props)
The snap roll will happen..NOW! What is different, is that the plane was flying straight up at good speed due to take off run. When the flat spin hits, the wings go from vertical to flat or horizontal to start the spin. Here is the exciting part....all that speed you gained on take off is instantly stopped with the wings now parallel to the ground and you have no airspeed and no altitude. Needless to say, this take off should be done away from the flight area.
To get out of this mess, means instantly go to idle, aim the plane straight down, by inputting up elevator, to gain air speed, advance the throttle to one half ( Or what your plane can take) and pull out . Yaw is not really a problem going straight down. Plan to shake for sometime the first time this happens, but plan for it if you do aerobatic type take off's with a twin.