JAL plane flew with engine thrust reverser locked
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JAL plane flew with engine thrust reverser locked
TOKYO - A Japan Airlines passenger plane traveled from Osaka to Kagoshima on Saturday with its engine thrust reverser locked, the company said Sunday.
While the 181 crew members and passengers were unhurt, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport gave a verbal warning to the company for improper maintenance, as a mechanic forgot to remove the safety pin locking the engine thrust reverser during maintenance operations on Friday evening.
(Kyodo News Service)
While the 181 crew members and passengers were unhurt, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport gave a verbal warning to the company for improper maintenance, as a mechanic forgot to remove the safety pin locking the engine thrust reverser during maintenance operations on Friday evening.
(Kyodo News Service)
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Re: JAL plane flew with engine thrust reverser locked
It's not uncommon to lock an unserviceable T/R closed - so that it will not open inadvertantly. If that's the case this doesn't seem to be real news.
Re: JAL plane flew with engine thrust reverser locked
Flew with one locked on many a leg. For example your plane lands with a reverser problem. Whats more cost effective,(A) delay or cancel while you fix it or (B) lock it out per FAA approved procedures for the return west across the pond?
Obviously (B) and its a non event.
Obviously (B) and its a non event.
Re: JAL plane flew with engine thrust reverser locked
I'm just glad the crew managed to avoid the primary school, old folks home and the cat and dog home as they brought the crippled machine back to terra-firma.....other wise there would be mass hysteria from the tabloid media.......
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Re: JAL plane flew with engine thrust reverser locked
During certain maint. checks the lockout pin is required to be installed in the t/rev for safety. There is a procedure for ensuring the t/revs are reactivated after maint. sometimes the pin is left in by accident. It shouldn't be but welcome to the world of human factors! Like you 145qrh I'm glad they managed to miss the school!!
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Re: JAL plane flew with engine thrust reverser locked
I heard a story about a 744 landing in LHR, only 1 rev operated, Capt asked maint if he should snag 3 revs or the one that operated,!!!.
Fact was 3 revs had been left locked out after maint, unrecorded work was to blame.!!!.
Fact was 3 revs had been left locked out after maint, unrecorded work was to blame.!!!.
Re: JAL plane flew with engine thrust reverser locked
What a wonderful non-story; the use of thrust reversers is not considered in take-off and landing performance calculations.
In really simple terms this means that ALL thrust reversers can be inop and it will change the price of butter not one single iota.
In really simple terms this means that ALL thrust reversers can be inop and it will change the price of butter not one single iota.
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Re: JAL plane flew with engine thrust reverser locked
Originally Posted by JW411
What a wonderful non-story; the use of thrust reversers is not considered in take-off and landing performance calculations.
Re: JAL plane flew with engine thrust reverser locked
And lets not forget the mechanic left the pin in but also that the crew missed the lockout pin on their walk round........all the TR's locked out that I have come across the pins are clearly visable on the walkround, saves Murphys Law coming in...
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Re: JAL plane flew with engine thrust reverser locked
I agree - what news?
Again if you look into the books about how much difference it makes to the landing distance required, it's a wonder we don't all land with reverse idle anyway. Horah.
(nice new faces!).
Again if you look into the books about how much difference it makes to the landing distance required, it's a wonder we don't all land with reverse idle anyway. Horah.
(nice new faces!).
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Re: JAL plane flew with engine thrust reverser locked
Big difference between locking something out for maintenance reasons, and something being locked out because it was forgotten about. I'd say that is the point being made in this story.
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Re: JAL plane flew with engine thrust reverser locked
fergineer
Most T/Rev pins used for maint purposes, would not be visible to crew or an engineer doing a walk round check.
The fact is l have yet to work on an aircraft that they would not be under a panel or the engine cowls.
The pins that you have seen are not used for locking out the reversers while maintenance is carried out, only for inservice use to inop the reversers.
Most T/Rev pins used for maint purposes, would not be visible to crew or an engineer doing a walk round check.
The fact is l have yet to work on an aircraft that they would not be under a panel or the engine cowls.
The pins that you have seen are not used for locking out the reversers while maintenance is carried out, only for inservice use to inop the reversers.
Last edited by Mr @ Spotty M; 18th Jan 2006 at 18:22.
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Re: JAL plane flew with engine thrust reverser locked
JW411,
This is taken from our 320 manual wrt Depatch with thrust reverser inop:
followed by the appropriate reductions in take off weights.
This is taken from our 320 manual wrt Depatch with thrust reverser inop:
followed by the appropriate reductions in take off weights.
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Re: JAL plane flew with engine thrust reverser locked
JW411,
Certain aircraft have takeoff performance from wet or contaminated runways based upon the use of "some" thrust reversers and a 15 ft screen height.. This applies for both FAA and JAA.
Mutt
Certain aircraft have takeoff performance from wet or contaminated runways based upon the use of "some" thrust reversers and a 15 ft screen height.. This applies for both FAA and JAA.
Mutt
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Re: JAL plane flew with engine thrust reverser locked
Most T/Rev pins used for maint purposes, would not be visible to crew or an engineer doing a walk round check.
The fact is l have yet to work on an aircraft that they would not be under a panel or the engine cowls.
The pins that you have seen are not used for locking out the reversers while maintenance is carried out, only for inservice use to inop the reversers.
The fact is l have yet to work on an aircraft that they would not be under a panel or the engine cowls.
The pins that you have seen are not used for locking out the reversers while maintenance is carried out, only for inservice use to inop the reversers.
Re: JAL plane flew with engine thrust reverser locked
My first reaction followed the majority above. No big deal as thrust reversers are locked on on purpose fairly open.
I believe the issue is, that the crew typically knows they are locked out and as such avoid the asymetry on landing.
History has shown, that it's not nice to surprise crews with gotcha's
I believe the issue is, that the crew typically knows they are locked out and as such avoid the asymetry on landing.
History has shown, that it's not nice to surprise crews with gotcha's
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Re: JAL plane flew with engine thrust reverser locked
I think it makes a difference if you've locked the reverser purposely and have made your decisions based on this versus being caught unaware by it. In the latter case it could become one of those small errors that could trigger a lot of bad news, for example when landing in a snow storm on a wet runway at Chicago Midway. Not a professional so feel free to let me know how you really feel 
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Re: JAL plane flew with engine thrust reverser locked
While the 181 crew members and passengers were unhurt...
Every time I read something like this, I'm irresistably reminded of the 'Day Today' sketch, where an out-of-control helicopter narrowly misses 'a class of schoolchildren looking for worms' and 'an old woman sitting on top of a pole'...
It was the pole that did it for me...
R1