Originally Posted by
1wife2airlines
But how do you match levers when the engine is running at idle. That's the problem. But there is another rare safety issue when in flight simulated engine out work is done. I'm the IP on a T-38 ride and we come back to do a SE overhead (before they were banned). Make it around final turn and roll out with airspeed trending down. "Airspeed", "power" with no response so, "I got it" grab the idle lever and match both while cramming them into max AB. I ignored the screaming until we were stable. What's the matter? My hand is stuck. Got him free with no permanent damage.
You don't match the power levers when doing simulated engine-out, one engine-at idle. Obviously.
In a transport category Boeing, we don't do that. We have a simulator, and in the simulator, when we have severe engine damage, an engine failure, or a fire, we shut the engine down in a four-step memory procedure that disconnects the autothrottle, retards a thrust lever to verify engine response or lack thereof, fuel-chop the engine with the fuel control, and as appropriate, t-handle the engine to shut off fuel, hydraulic, and electric. It's the manufacturer procedure, it's how the training is done, and it's how the aircraft is flown. We don't typically go do it in the airplane because it's a lot easier on airplanes, and a lot less expensive, and a lot safer, to do it in a simulator. Consequently, there's no real concern with flying around with one thrust lever at idle while we "simulate" an engine shutdown. It IS shutdown.
I can't see a valid reason to idle a suspected engine failure/fire/severe damage, when the procedure clearly involves shutting it down and securing it. That done, once secured and the fuel control has been placed to cutoff, then the thrust lever can be returned to the pilot flying so that he has the same fist full of throttles that he had when both were working.