How does torque impact an aircraft when the left engine fails?

When the left engine fails in a multi-engine aircraft, the phenomenon of torque plays a significant role in the aircraft's handling characteristics. Torque refers to the rotational force that engines produce, which results in the aircraft wanting to rotate in the opposite direction of the engine's rotation due to Newton's third law (for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction).

In the scenario where the left engine fails, the torque that was created by that engine is no longer present. This can lead to an imbalance in forces acting on the aircraft. Specifically, if the left engine was counteracting a portion of the yaw and roll generated by the operational right engine, the loss of that engine causes the aircraft to yaw towards the left. At the same time, the continued operation of the right engine creates a rolling motion toward the left because the thrust from the right engine has a tendency to roll the aircraft in that direction.

Consequently, the combined effect results in a left yaw and roll, making it necessary for the pilot to take corrective action to maintain controlled flight. Therefore, understanding the impact of torque on aircraft during an engine failure is critical for maintaining stability and control, as the aircraft's behavior will indeed be influenced by the loss of that left engine's torque.