Two Engines, New Rules (AFH Ch. 13)

A small multiengine airplane flies almost exactly like a single — right up until one engine quits, and then it becomes a completely different animal. In this episode Maya and Rico take on Chapter 13 of the FAA Airplane Flying Handbook, “Transition to Multiengine Airplanes.” They unpack why losing one of two engines costs you fifty percent of your power but eighty to ninety percent of your climb, decode the two most important markings on the airspeed indicator (the red line VMC and the blue line VYSE), and walk through exactly what your hands and feet do when an engine fails after takeoff. Along the way: feathering propellers, why VMC is not a fixed number, finding zero sideslip, and the one ground rule that never changes — the manufacturer’s AFM and POH always win. In this episode Why multiengine is its own class rating — the second engine is conditional safety, not free safety. The climb math: climb runs on excess power, so a 50% power loss can erase 80–90% of your climb performance. The two markings that matter: red line VMC (can I steer?) and blue line VYSE (can I climb?) — two separate problems. Why VMC is not a fixed number: it moves with power, aft CG, a windmilling prop, lighter weight, and dramatically with bank — more than three knots per degree. The engine-failure-after-takeoff response in four words, in priority order: Control, Configuration, Climb, Checklist. Feathering the dead engine — and why you do it while the prop is still spinning above ~800 rpm. Finding zero sideslip: about two degrees of bank toward the operative engine, ball a third to a half out. The takeoff safety brief, common errors, and what the checkride actually asks for. Sources This episode is built from the FAA Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3C), Chapter 13 — “Transition to Multiengine Airplanes.” Regulations and references cited on air: 14 CFR § 23.2135(c) (current definition of VMC); 14 CFR § 23.149 (historical VMC determination, including the 5-degree bank and 150-lb rudder-force conditions); 14 CFR § 23.2005 (certification levels and performance-level classification); 14 CFR § 23.2120(b) (single-engine climb-gradient certification, 1.5% at 5,000 ft); and amendment 81 FR 96689 (effective December 30, 2016). Multiengine-class Airman Certification Standards tasks for the VMC demonstration and in-flight feathering/unfeathering are referenced. Current as of June 2025. Maya and Rico are AI-generated hosts. Episodes are produced from official FAA public-domain source material. Education and entertainment only — not flight instruction; always consult your CFI and the current FAR/AIM.