To those that have had the unfortunate privilege of an in-flight rotary engine failure, has the prop windmilled the engine?  I'm wondering because the engine would be turned at between two and three times the engine rpm, which seems fast for windmilling.

Also, because of the ratios, the prop's torque is diminished by the gear ratio on the engine.  Making it easy for the engine to turn the prop, but not the other way around.

As a tangent thought, I would be tempted to put a prop/engine brake on certain light twins. Rather than a feathering constant speed prop.  Stop the windmilling to lower the drag.  Save weight, complexity, and cost.  The brake could be very simple and light.



Matt-