On a twin engine jet is there a critical engine?

Question

On a twin engine jet is there a critical engine?

Answer 1

No, the term only applies to prop aircraft without counter rotating props.



The "critical engine" is the engine whose failure most adversely affects flight performance. On non-counter roting props the left engine is critical. This is because the desending blade produces the thrust and it is closer to the centerline of the aircraft than the descending blade on the right. Hence the center of thrust on the right engine is farther away from the fuselage on the right side, so if the left fails, aircraft controlability is most affected.



Jets do not have this problem as their centerline of thrust is equal from the aircraft centerline. So, you could say (jokingly) the "critical" engine on a jet like a 767 is the one left runnning!

Answer 2

Critical Engine

Answer 3

I am assuming this is relating to Critical Engine Failure Speed (vCEF). Well, on a 707 (4 engines) the critical engine is the outboard upwind engine. Since it's loss would cause the most adverse yaw. If nothing was done at engine failure, the plane would yaw (turn) towards the failed engine, and if the wind was coming from that same side, it would be pushing on the vertical stabalizer, swinging the nose even further, faster in that direction. I am assuming on a twin engine jet, the upwind engine is more critical in determining vCEF. The further those engines are from the centerline of the aircraft also comes into play. Rear mounted engines, like an MD80, would be less critical than say a 777.

Answer 4

I was a Plane Captain with VF-142 in the Navy. On F-14 Tomcats, the plane was made to be able to fly with one engine, either one. Some commercial jets may have a critical engine for electrical power. I sure all military jets can run on either engine. Civilian might be different but I can't think of a good reason why.

Answer 5

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RE:

On a twin engine jet is there a critical engine?

Answer 6

No. Either will work, and dual-engine planes are built to fly on one engine if necessary. There is a term called ETOPS, extended twin-engine operations, which describes the requirements for operating twin-engine planes away from airports. In general, a plane must be able to fly 120 minutes or 180 minutes in those instances. In one case, a United Airlines 777 flew over 5 hours on one engine.

Answer 7

Yes! Any failure on an aircraft is critical!!! But perhaps not technically speaking is there a critical engine on jets. See above answers. I view anything that fails on my airplane critical. Especially if it provides power!

Answer 8

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