View Full Version : bird slaughter at WAW on Apr 16th
hi, I am a modest pax from a far country; just wanted to report that BA flight WAW-LHR last Sunday had interrupted takeoff when a bird hit Airbus' engine; plane taxied back on one engine and replacement plane flew from LHR to pickup pax. No injuries, all tyres burnt.
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Peace and respect to all good people here at pprune.
wobble2plank
19th Apr 2006, 11:19
Plane hit two birds, seagulls down the no.2 engine, full RTO at 120Kts plus with no incident. Brakes hot probably but no tyres blown or burnt from what I heard. There weren't many pax and the next scheduled flight took 'em to Heathrow. Aircraft was repaired overnight and flown back the following morning.
thank you! good to know that from (almost) source.
facts tends to be seriously modified during communicating; this is so human.
Bearcat
20th Apr 2006, 13:13
did the eng fail? airbus dont recommned rto's after 100kts unless it v v v serious.
lomapaseo
20th Apr 2006, 13:52
did the eng fail? airbus dont recommned rto's after 100kts unless it v v v serious.
It would be quite probable that two seagulls down the engine would produce symptoms like a surge that would make the pilot think an engine had failed and then to use his judgement at 120kts whether to abort.
wobble2plank
20th Apr 2006, 16:12
Quite true, Airbus SOP's need two indications, one of which is internal.
From what I've heard the birds were seen, a thump was heard and then the engine note changed dramatically and the RTO was called.
Two N1 fan blades were found to be bent forward by the impact more than 5 cm at the tips. Instant reject by airbus. Probably would have required a circuit to land if taken airborne due to vibration.
SOP's can't cover all eventualities, sounds like a good call from the front seat.
backseatjock
21st Apr 2006, 23:02
At least WAW, like so many other central and eastern european fields has a long, long runway! Good job again by the BA crew and how many times have people said that when the going gets tough!