View Full Version : VS021 Engine problem 21/02
ravfooty
23rd Feb 2005, 09:13
Hello,
A friend of mine was on this flight from Heathrow to Washington on Monday, shortly after take off from Heathrow the captain announced a serious problem with engine number four, they dumped fuel for half an hour then landed back at Heathrow being met my fire engines etc when they landed before taking off again a few hours later.
I know it seems to be frowned upon to post messages about what some people regard as trivial aircraft problems, but i'm just curious if anyone knows what exactly happened.
Thanks
Captain Rat
23rd Feb 2005, 16:16
Reverser fault, engine shutdown as per procedure, dont believe fuel was dumped as weight was OK. Fault was rectified for dispatch fairly quickly by VS engineers, alowing same crew to stay within hours and go to IAD as planned.
Northerner
24th Feb 2005, 21:12
They did dump fuel, or else I was vectoring him in circles around the sky for half an hour for no reason at all! Hope they appreciated the personal service!
:p
Leezyjet
25th Feb 2005, 23:21
They did dump fuel, they were not going to at first, but then decided to.
A/c was fixed in just over an hour. Took longer to refuel than fix it !!.
:)
Cartman's Twin
28th Feb 2005, 17:08
Trust you to offer them a 'personal service'!!!!
With all the discussions here about SOPs to continue flight on 3, any idea why they turned back? One thrust reverser inoperative (out of 4) hardly seems like a critical issue... or is it a VS thing?
Mode7
28th Feb 2005, 17:47
If the reverser problem was 'unlocked' or such, it is a problem. I'm sure VS's operating procs would prefer to return to main bace than continue?
JackOffallTrades
28th Feb 2005, 17:56
Errrr...
One thrust reverser inoperative (out of 4) hardly seems like a critical issue...
I think it is pretty damn critical. I would rather have an engine failure. Less swing for a start.
Would you really continue across the pond with a reverser flapping about in the breeze??
Hotel Mode
28th Feb 2005, 19:00
Most airlines will return to main base for a failiure departing main base. Or continue back to main base if away (4 engines anyway)
srs what?
28th Feb 2005, 20:24
The reverser was apparently 'partially unlocked'.
Forgive my non-technicalness but the way it was explained to me by Engineers was that there is a primary and secondary latch locking the reverser away. The primary latch failed causing the reverser door to deploy very slightly. The aircraft returned to have the offending reverser locked out before continuing on it's way.
Rollingthunder
28th Feb 2005, 20:54
Well "locked out" has always meant to me to lock out the reverser so it can't deploy (i.e. unserviceable reverser)
M.Mouse
28th Feb 2005, 23:26
Lauda Air lost a 767 in May 1991 when a reverser deployed in flight near Phu Khao Kao Chan, Thailand.
It crashed into dense jungle on climb-out after the reverser deployed on engine the left engine. It caused massive yaw forces beyond the design limits of the aircraft.
Cause of the unwanted deployment was never exactly established.
Any reverser unlocked indication in flight is potentially very serious.
Captain Rat
1st Mar 2005, 07:15
Yes the reverser was locked out on when the aircraft returned. So no it could not be used on the next flight. It is not that an unusual occurance to lock out a reverser. Depending on the weather at the departure and/or dstination the fault may have to be fixed first though or the aircraft swapped to another one. I believe there was a small delay to a flight yesterday due to a reverser fault that had to be fixed due to weather in New York.