Engine failure after takeoff

Note: This scenario uses a wide-body aircraft capable of fuel jettison, such as a B777/A330-class aircraft. B737-style scenarios usually involve overweight landing instead of fuel jettison.

1. Today’s Goal

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to explain:

• what happened after an engine failure,
• how the crew handled the emergency,
• why MAYDAY was declared,
• why fuel jettison was necessary,
• how ATC helped the aircraft return safely.

2. Past-Tense Scenario

Read this slowly twice.

I was the First Officer of HL123, a twin-engine wide-body aircraft departing from Incheon International Airport.

Shortly after takeoff, while we were climbing through approximately 1,500 feet, we heard a loud bang from the right side of the aircraft. At the same time, the aircraft started to yaw to the right, and the engine instruments showed severe vibration and a rapid loss of thrust on Engine Number Two.

The Captain immediately took control and said, “I have control.”

As the Pilot Monitoring, I checked the engine indications, accomplished the memory items, and confirmed that Engine Two had failed.

After confirming the failure, we declared MAYDAY and informed ATC that we needed to return to the departure airport. ATC provided radar vectors and gave us priority handling.

During the assessment, we realized that the aircraft was above its maximum landing weight. Therefore, we requested vectors for fuel jettison.

After reducing the landing weight, we conducted a single-engine ILS approach and landed safely without further complications.

The incident reminded us that maintaining aircraft control, following the checklist, and communicating clearly with ATC are essential during any airborne emergency.

3. Quick Understanding Check

Answer in English.

1. What happened shortly after takeoff?
2. Which engine failed?
3. What did the Captain do first?
4. What did the First Officer do as Pilot Monitoring?
5. Why did the crew request fuel jettison?

4. Key Verbs

experience

뜻: 겪다, 경험하다

• We experienced an engine failure shortly after takeoff.
• The aircraft experienced severe vibration during the initial climb.

hear

뜻: 듣다

• We heard a loud bang from the right side of the aircraft.
• The crew heard an unusual noise immediately after takeoff.

yaw

뜻: 기수가 좌우로 틀어지다

• The aircraft started to yaw to the right.
• The failed engine caused the aircraft to yaw unexpectedly.

indicate

뜻: 나타내다, 표시하다

• The engine instruments indicated a rapid loss of thrust.
• The warning message indicated a possible engine failure.

maintain

뜻: 유지하다

• Our first priority was to maintain aircraft control.
• We maintained runway heading while handling the emergency.

accomplish

뜻: 수행하다

• I accomplished the memory items as the Pilot Monitoring.
• We accomplished the engine failure checklist.

confirm

뜻: 확인하다

• We confirmed that Engine Two had failed.
• I confirmed the engine indications before calling out the failure.

declare

뜻: 선언하다

• We declared MAYDAY immediately.
• The Captain decided to declare an emergency.

inform

뜻: 알리다

• We informed ATC that we needed to return.
• We informed the cabin crew about the emergency situation.

request

뜻: 요청하다

• We requested priority handling.
• We requested radar vectors for fuel jettison.

provide

뜻: 제공하다

• ATC provided radar vectors.
• ATC provided us with priority handling.

jettison

뜻: 투하하다, 버리다

• We jettisoned fuel to reduce landing weight.
• Fuel was jettisoned before returning to the airport.

reduce

뜻: 줄이다

• We reduced the landing weight before landing.
• Fuel jettison helped reduce structural stress.

conduct

뜻: 수행하다

• We conducted a single-engine ILS approach.
• The crew conducted the approach safely.

coordinate

뜻: 조율하다, 협조하다

• We coordinated closely with ATC.
• The flight crew coordinated with the cabin crew and dispatch.

5. Useful Expressions

6. Advanced Alternatives

Basic: The engine failed.
Better: We experienced an engine failure on Engine Number Two.

Basic: We came back.
Better: We returned to the departure airport.

Basic: ATC helped us.
Better: ATC provided radar vectors and priority handling.

Basic: We threw away fuel.
Better: We jettisoned fuel to reduce landing weight.

Basic: We landed safely.
Better: We landed safely without further complications.

7. Common Mistakes

❌ We did emergency.
✅ We declared an emergency.
✅ We declared MAYDAY.

❌ We had engine trouble.
✅ We experienced an engine failure.

❌ We came back to airport.
✅ We returned to the departure airport.

❌ We dumped fuel because aircraft was heavy.
✅ We jettisoned fuel because the aircraft was above its maximum landing weight.

❌ ATC gave us priority.
✅ ATC provided priority handling.

❌ We did checklist.
✅ We accomplished the checklist.
✅ We completed the checklist.

8. Key Vocabulary

9. Grammar Focus — Past Simple / Past Continuous / Past Perfect

EPTA Task C is usually a past event description, so you need past tense.

Past Simple

Use this for main events.

• We heard a loud bang.
• The aircraft started to yaw.
• We declared MAYDAY.
• ATC provided radar vectors.

Past Continuous

Use this for background actions.

• We were climbing through 1,500 feet.
• We were monitoring the engine indications.
• We were preparing for the return.

Past Perfect

Use this when one past event happened before another past event.

• After we had confirmed the engine failure, we declared MAYDAY.
• After we had reduced the landing weight, we started the final approach.

Simple version also works:

• After confirming the engine failure, we declared MAYDAY.
• After reducing the landing weight, we started the final approach.

10. Model Answer — Q1

“What happened to your aircraft? Explain the nature of the incident.”

Shortly after takeoff, our aircraft experienced an engine failure on Engine Number Two. While we were climbing through approximately 1,500 feet, we heard a loud bang from the right side of the aircraft. The aircraft started to yaw to the right, and the engine instruments indicated severe vibration and a rapid loss of thrust.

Our first priority was to maintain aircraft control. The Captain took control of the aircraft, and I accomplished the memory items as the Pilot Monitoring. After confirming that Engine Two had failed, we declared MAYDAY and informed ATC that we needed to return to the departure airport.

ATC provided radar vectors and priority handling, which helped reduce our workload. During the assessment, we realized that the aircraft was above its maximum landing weight, so we requested vectors for fuel jettison. After reducing the landing weight, we conducted a single-engine ILS approach and landed safely without further complications.

The nature of the incident was a serious engine failure during a critical phase of flight. However, by maintaining aircraft control, following the checklist, and coordinating closely with ATC, we managed the emergency safely.

11. Model Answer — Q2

“How do you think ATC handled the situation? Could it have been handled differently?”

From a pilot’s perspective, ATC handled the situation professionally. After we declared MAYDAY, they immediately provided radar vectors and priority handling, which helped us remain near the departure airport and reduced our workload. They also kept other traffic away from our flight path and supported our fuel jettison request.

One possible improvement could be earlier coordination with airport emergency services and clearer information about available runways and weather conditions. However, overall, ATC’s calm and prompt response helped us manage the engine failure safely and return to the airport without further complications.

12. Short Q2 Version

I think ATC handled the situation very professionally. Once we declared MAYDAY, they provided radar vectors, priority handling, and traffic separation. This reduced our workload and allowed us to focus on aircraft control and checklist procedures. One improvement could be earlier coordination with emergency services, but overall, their response was calm, prompt, and effective.

13. Follow-up Questions

Answer in English.

1. Why is maintaining aircraft control the first priority?
2. Why did the crew declare MAYDAY instead of PAN PAN?
3. Why was fuel jettison necessary?
4. What was the role of the Pilot Monitoring in this situation?
5. What would you do if the aircraft could not jettison fuel?

14. Shadowing Sentences

Repeat each sentence five times.

1. We experienced an engine failure shortly after takeoff.
2. The aircraft started to yaw to the right.
3. Our first priority was to maintain aircraft control.
4. I accomplished the memory items as the Pilot Monitoring.
5. We confirmed that Engine Two had failed.
6. We declared MAYDAY without delay.
7. ATC provided radar vectors and priority handling.
8. We jettisoned fuel to reduce landing weight.
9. We conducted a single-engine ILS approach.
10. We landed safely without further complications.

15. Speaking Challenge

Speak for 90–120 seconds.

Describe an engine failure that occurred shortly after takeoff. Explain what happened, how the crew handled the situation, and how ATC handled the situation from a pilot’s perspective.

Try to include at least 8 of these expressions:

• experienced an engine failure
• heard a loud bang
• rapid loss of thrust
• maintain aircraft control
• accomplish the memory items
• confirm the engine failure
• declare MAYDAY
• request priority handling
• request radar vectors
• jettison fuel
• reduce landing weight
• conduct a single-engine approach
• land without further complications

16. Review Quiz

A. Fill in the blanks

1. We ________ an engine failure shortly after takeoff.
2. Our first priority was to ________ aircraft control.
3. We ________ MAYDAY without delay.
4. ATC ________ radar vectors and priority handling.
5. We ________ fuel to reduce landing weight.
6. We conducted a ________ approach.

Answers:

1. experienced
2. maintain
3. declared
4. provided
5. jettisoned
6. single-engine

B. Correct the Sentences

1. ❌ We did emergency.
2. ❌ We came back to airport.
3. ❌ We did checklist.
4. ❌ ATC gave us priority.
5. ❌ We dumped fuel because aircraft was heavy.

Correct Answers:

1. ✅ We declared an emergency.
2. ✅ We returned to the departure airport.
3. ✅ We accomplished the checklist.
4. ✅ ATC provided priority handling.
5. ✅ We jettisoned fuel because the aircraft was above its maximum landing weight.

17. Today’s Speaking Structure

Use this structure when you answer.

1. Opening
   Shortly after takeoff, we experienced an engine failure on Engine Number Two.

2. Problem
   The aircraft started to yaw, and the engine instruments indicated severe vibration and a rapid loss of thrust.

3. Immediate Action
   Our first priority was to maintain aircraft control.

4. Crew Action
   The Captain took control, and I accomplished the memory items as the Pilot Monitoring.

5. Communication
   We declared MAYDAY and requested priority handling.

6. Decision
   Since the aircraft was above its maximum landing weight, we requested vectors for fuel jettison.

7. Outcome
   After reducing the landing weight, we conducted a single-engine ILS approach and landed safely.

8. ATC Evaluation
   From a pilot’s perspective, ATC handled the situation professionally by providing radar vectors, priority handling, and traffic separation.

9. Lesson
   This incident showed the importance of CRM, checklist discipline, and clear communication with ATC.