Which area is hazardous for 15 minutes after engine shutdown?

• A. The cockpit area
• B. The area immediately aft of the tailpipes
• C. The area around the wings
• D. The area immediately aft of the tailpipes is hazardous for 15 minutes after engine shutdown

Answer: (B)

After an engine is shut down, the exhaust system and nearby surfaces stay extremely hot. The area directly behind the tailpipes is where the hot gases exit and where radiant heat and heat soak are most intense. Because of that lingering heat, that zone remains hazardous for about 15 minutes, posing a burn risk if touched or if someone stands in or near it. This is why the tailpipe area is identified as the hazardous region for that 15-minute window.

The cockpit and wing areas aren’t the primary sources of residual heat in the same way, so they don’t carry the same explicit 15-minute hazard associated with the exhaust path. The tailpipe area’s heat is localized to the exhaust flow, making it the correct focus for post-shutdown safety.