Navajo jumpship questions...

[d123 1]

Right engine failed.

Lock, Dock and Two Smoking Barrelrolls!

[mdrejhon 8]

Quote

Right engine failed.

As the Navajo jump exit is on the left side, I think a right engine failure is safer than a left engine failure? The extra drag of a jumpdoor on the side opposite the failed propeller, is preferable, I think, from a thrust-balance standpoint. If the jumpdoor was on the same side as the failed prop, there would be more asymmetry.

Would any pilot be able to confirm?
Even from past precedent of single-propeller operations on any twin such as Twin otters?

[pilotdave 0]

A right engine failure IS safer, but it has nothing to do with the side the jump door is on... All has to do with the direction the propellers turn.

Dave

[davelepka 4]

As the other Dave pointed out, the right engine failure is better than the left engine.

Due to the rotation of the props, the plane wants to yaw to the left under high power, low airspeed situations.

In a single engine plane, the pilot has to apply right rudder to keep the airplane flying in a straight line during take off and climb out. If you were to release the rudder input once you were airborne, the plane would begin a steady left hand turn. More airspeed, and a reduction from take off power to climb or cruise power reduces this effect significantly.

In a twin if you loose the right engine in high power, low airspeed situation, the left engine would need to lever against the inboard left wing, the entire right wing, and the drag of the dead engine to do any real harm.

If you lose lefty, on the other hand, that's another story. The drag of the dead engine will slow down the left side, and less airspeed = less lift. At the same time the right engine, which is now trying to power the entire aircraft, is still trying to rotate the plane to the left. When you combine the drag of the dead left engine, and the right engine trying to roll with just the outboard right wing to pull around the outside of the roll, you can see how a twin can end up on it's back if you loose the critical engine.

This is also why lower powered twins are 'less safe'. If you need full take-off power to climb or maintain altitude on one engine, and that happens to be the right engine, you can see the problem. If you have a Super Otter that can climb or maintain altitude on 75% power, that's going to make a bad situation less bad.