The debate over light twins

Buying a used airplane can be challenging and frustrating. With so many choices, some people don’t even know where to start. Many people frequently ask me if it is safer to own or purchase alight twin engine airplane as opposed to a larger single engine airplane. They automatically assume that since the airplane has a second engine, that it is safer. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Here are a few reason why you may want to consider a single engine airplane as opposed to a light twin.

Maintenance

Maintenance on a light twin will be much greater than a single. Having two engines mean twice as many things to go wrong. During the annual maintenance inspection, it will also cost more because of the second engine that they have to go through. Most light twins are also older, increasing the risk for more maintenance and higher maintenance bills.

Cost

While the initial purchase price of a light twin might seem like a great deal, especially now, it is usually not over the long term. These aircraft will use a lot more fuel and oil than a comparable single engine airplane. For example, a Piper Senecaburns approximately28gallons per hour and cruises at about 170 knots. It has 6 seats with a useful load of 980. Compare this to a Cessna 210 which burns around 17 gallons per hour, also cruises at 165 knots, and has a useful load of approximately 1200. The Cessna 210 will also be less to insure and maintain.

Safety

Here is where the debate really begins. Some people claim a multi-engine plane is safer because if you lose an engine, you can typically maintain your altitude and fly until you reach an airport with maintenance facilities. This, opposed to a single engine airplane with an engine failure and you are now gliding to a field, road, or if you’re very lucky, airport. Statistics do not show that an airplane with 2 engines is any safer than one, however, I believe (as do many pilots), that an EXPERIENCED pilot can have a safer flight with a multi-engine airplane. Unfortunately, statistics show that inexperienced or pilots who aren’t very current, are less safe in a multi-engine piston than they are in a single engine piston.

So if you are making long trips over water, or are going to be using your airplane often and do not care about the higher costs, a light twin may be for you. However, if you are more of an occasional flier that will be taking short trips and would like to save on costs with maintenance, insurance, and fuel, a single engine is probably the better way to go.

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