JMC Engine Failure @ LEMH 4/5/01
 

Just after any feedback from the above incident - happened about 1515Z.

We gathered the aircraft was able to taxi clear of the r/w (much to the relief of less-than-helpful ATC, who seemed more concerned with the fact that we were only(!) 8nm on final), so I assume/hope no-one was hurt.

I'm just interested in what actually happened...apart from the unscheduled Mediterranean nightstop! (though it was pi$$ing down)

AB

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...proceeding below Decision Height with CAUTION...

One of their V2500-powered A320's was parked-up there last night, that's all I know.

And, with no radar there, the seperation between Aircraft is, of course, increased. I suspect they have a radar-repeater fed-in from elsewhere, though!! :rolleyes:

[This message has been edited by fmgs (edited 05 May 2001).]

I can understand that their(ATC's) concern at our imminent arrival was heightened by their lack of radar, but as we had not been cleared to land, and were bloody miles away, it should have been apparent that we would safely execute quite a relaxed missed approach.

More concerning was ATC's repeated questioning of the JMC flight crew as to their intentions even immediately after they had declared a Mayday, at what was understandably a very hectic time in the flight deck.

The language barrier can explain away some of the breakdown in communcation but after a Mayday?? F*cking poor show I thought.

What was the e-mail of that journalist researching the lack of investment of our tourist cash in Spanish ATC again...?

We were sat on the apron as he had the problem (engine failure on the take off roll I think). When the aircraft cleared the runway and taxied past there were flames visible in the port engine. We advised the crew by radio and they requested the fire service to attend. They were then asked to contact ground on a different frequency (!) and repeated their request twice. The fire service came out at a snails pace and we timed it at around ten minutes before a fire person approached the aircraft. In defence of the crew they had no fire warnings and I suspect it was just a tailpipe fire which they presumably dealt with themselves, but it was a little sobering to discover the lack of interest of ATC etc. The go around seemed a little premature and they could have let you guys carry on a bit longer to see what developed I would have thought.

Thanks ch - my recollections of the ATC/Fire service response were not exaqggerated then!

It wasn't really a go-around, we just climbed gently into the overhead, certainly preferable to a full-on TOGA experience from low level; we had stacks of gas.

I was more surprised we weren't told to break off the approach earlier, the urgency of ATC to talk to the crew about trivia seemed to be related to us, when we were still a long way away and they blatantly did not appreciate the interruption.

We heard 'tailpipe fire' mentioned on the R/T, don't know whether from yourselves or the JMC. Can you get a tailpipe fire on a running engine? Did the engine flameout first? Can we take our own fire engine next time?

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...proceeding below Decision Height with CAUTION...

I once had the misfortune to request the urgent presence of the fire services at this airport and sadly received the same lack of response. Re the ATC there I have twice filed Air Safety Reports against them and on each occasion the company received no response from the Spanish.