Mixture cuts on take off at Moorabbin
A student recently completed an initial multi-engine endorsement at a Moorabbin flying school. The grade one instructor simulated engine failure after take-off on several occasions by cutting the mixture control, rather than closing the throttle.
Some years ago, CASA produced a CAAP after several fatal accidents involving simulated engine failures using the mixture control? The following extract from CAAP 5.23-1 amplifies this by stating:
“Do not simulate an engine failure using procedures that may jeopardise the restoration of power. It would be folly to simulate an engine failure at low level by selecting the mixture to idle cut-off or turning the fuel selector off. These procedures would be more appropriate at higher altitude”.
The above case involves just one senior one instructor at Moorabbin. But it makes one wonder how many other instructors deliberately disregard the sensible advice published in the CASA CAAP? In addition, if CASA is aware of this continued practice, why hasn’t it taken appropriate non-compliance action?
Surely the risks involved with mixture cuts after take-off, as well as the safety message published in the applicable CAAP, should be emphasised during the CASA approved multi-engine instructors’ course. On the other hand, there are doubtless some instructors who, in their over-confidence in their own abilities, refuse to change their ways in this regard. Maybe CASA needs to get its collective fingers out and fix the problem before another accident like the fatal Duchess accident at Camden occurs.