ATPL question - VMCA
Which of the following is true with regard to VMCA (air minimum control speed)?
a) The aeroplane will not gather the min required climb gradient?
b) VMCA only applies to four engine aeroplanes?
c) The aeroplane is uncontrollable below VMCA?
d) Straight flight cannot be maintained below VMCA when the critical engine has failed?
Is it just me not understanding the principles here or are the answers worded in a very strange way - notably c) and d)?
I went for c) - below VMCA you risk VMC rollover and loss of control. By suggesting "straight flight cannot be maintained..." are the CAA suggesting that controllable flight CAN be maintained below min control speed? If so they're a brave bunch! The only sense of "control" I could think of would be a controlled recovery...
I note that c) does not specify engine failure, but surely we are only talking about VMCA in an engine out scenario in the first place? I.e. Vs can be below Vmca, but this is a two engine situation only, because your limiting speed OEI would be Vmca if it was higher than Vs?