What happens to directional control when the left engine fails in a twin-engine aircraft?

When the left engine fails in a twin-engine aircraft, directional control decreases significantly due to the asymmetric thrust produced by the operating right engine. When one engine is lost, the functioning engine generates a yawing moment toward the inoperative side. This is because the aircraft's center of drag remains the same, while thrust is only coming from one side. As a result, the aircraft tends to roll and yaw towards the side of the failed engine, making it more challenging to maintain straight flight without corrective action.

Pilots must apply additional opposite rudder to counteract this yawing motion and maintain directional control. This requires skillful handling and a good understanding of the aircraft's performance characteristics under single-engine conditions. Maintaining control in this scenario is critical to safely managing the aircraft's flight path and ensuring a successful outcome in an engine-out situation.