VS021 Engine problem 21/02
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VS021 Engine problem 21/02
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
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
Join Date: Jun 2001
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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.
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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!
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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?
Join Date: Sep 2004
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Errrr...
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??
One thrust reverser inoperative (out of 4) hardly seems like a critical issue...
Would you really continue across the pond with a reverser flapping about in the breeze??
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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.
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.
Controversial, moi?
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.
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.
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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.
