The Intermediate and Tail gearboxes may run at cruise flight for up to how many minutes with loss of all oil?

• A. 30
• B. 15
• C. 60
• D. 45

Answer: (A)

The moment you lose oil to the Intermediate and Tail gearboxes, lubrication and cooling for those gears are compromised, causing bearings and gears to heat up quickly under load. The flight manual designates a safety window you can use in cruise flight where you may continue to operate despite the oil loss. That window is thirty minutes, giving you a limited but safe time to maneuver and complete a landing before overheating or damage becomes likely. The other durations don’t reflect the documented limit, which is why thirty minutes is the best answer. If oil loss occurs, plan to land as soon as practical and follow emergency procedures to secure the situation.