One time I saw an “engine failure alerting system” installed in a piston twin. It had two lights on the panel that would indicate which engine had failed. It clearly isn’t something in widespread use and I’m not sure how it worked, but something like that seems like a very good idea on a 337 or other tandem twins. A light illuminates on takeoff...pull back affected throttle to verify failure...immediately feather...fly normally. A manifold pressure gauge cannot definitively indicate that the engine has lost power. The needle would have moved very little if at all if the simulated failure was real because the throttle plate would remain fixed. Similarly the tachometer would barely move if at all because the propeller governor remains functional even with the engine windmilling.
You should demonstrate windmilling rear engine, full flaps and gear down and try to maintain single engine level flight. Can't be done. This goes with your rear engine fail not recognized.
Great video! Question... when you simulated the engine failure was there any noticeable change in torque effect (adverse yaw, p-factor etc) without the engines matched? Just wondering if that might also be another possible indication of failure if a pilot finds themselves having to add more pedal than usual.
Alexis Scott that’s a great question and honestly - you really can’t tell. I think some older models had an annunciations installed to warn of an engine failure much like the low rotor rpm warning on a helicopter.
Engines do not get lost they just lose performance or power but you are almost never actually losing the engine. Technically a dumb thing to say and it is said a lot.