UA5869 Engine fire at landing
 

UA5869 landing at Denver
Plenty of pix, pretty convincing there was an issue
http://www.airlive.net/breaking-unit...enver-airport/

Impressive:
Some sort of fuel leak I would assume.
http://www.airlive.net/wp-content/up...017/07/235.png

This time of year, with moderately high temps and dry grass and normal summer wind, glad it wasn't more of a leak. A little farther off to the side with the right wind, and, hey, we're shut down until it can be put out.

Glad everyone made it off well enough to point and scream -- always a good sign, sort of like a baby crying after being born.

Looking forward to more details.

Listening to the LiveATC.net tapes, Skywest 5869, N796SK, a Canadair CRJ-702ER from Aspen landed on 34R, cleared at high speed F9, taxied back on F, cleared to enter the ramp at CS.

They stopped on F before going very far back south, said they had an electrical problem and the ground controller reported seeing flames. Pax evacuated before the first trucks arrived, fire quickly extinguished. Sounds like 65 souls onboard on one radio call by the ARFF crew. Another count was announced as 57 adults, two juveniles. No injuries reported. :ok:

On tower, usual emergency shuffle, one plane offered late runway change, wisely took the missed instead.

Expected media reports that the 'plane was on the tarmac' or was 'taxiing on the runway'.

For any CRJ drivers out there - would it be normal to shut down an engine immediately after clearing the runway to save fuel? Would it make sense on a hot day in Denver? Or, would there be a cool down period required with these motors?

I've seen many engine shutdown policies come and go over the years to save fuel and in some cases brake wear.

In my experience, both personal and anecdotal, two times that engines are more likely to catch fire is when they start and when they are shut down.

Back when I was flying the CRJ-200 it was normal to shut down one engine after waiting two minutes after landing. I never flew into DEN so don't know what the procedures are at the high altitude airports. If it is any different.

very normal to shut down an engine (number 1) for a single engine taxi in/out in the CRJ. Usually will have the APU up so the packs can cope in the hot weather.

Two minute cool down regardless where you are.
The reverser's are hydraulic on the 7/9 vs bleedair on the 200.

Just saw TV footage, not sure why the fireman sprayed water all over the open front door when the fire was confined to the engine at the rear!? Now the interior needs a dry out at well as the engine change/damage work.

My immediate thought was oil from the front bearing. Be interesting to see the report. Anyone with the rego?

would oil continue to burn on the ground? In a hot engine most probably, but as a puddle on the tarmac?
I would also assume fuel, like Machinbird.

I chuckled at our local news (Ch9 - Australia). Reports of panicked passengers when the pictures showed passengers standing around filming the event on their phones. Nothing like any real panic I've seen.

Standard procedure. Process is to cover a/c and surrounding ground in foam for longer-lasting cooling and suffocation effect. It is difficult, doing a "windshield size-up", to accurately determine fire spread in an aircraft.

Fuel can run along the fuselage and ignite at inappropriate times in inappropriate places. One would generally prefer dampness over fire damage.

Maybe the fuel-oil heat exchanger developed a leak after landing...

First hand account.

Nothing unexpected I'd say

A great picture of the evac and initial spray of the engine from the fire truck. The usual crowd doing video clips for online posting.

As the article observes:

Um, how often do planes "explode and shower everyone with fiery metal"?

You'd be surprised how often. :hmm:

I think those CRJ's are 50-seater, plus a crew of 3, 2 up front and one in the cabin.
We flew into Denver on one last wednesday, and out on another 4 hours later.

The copilot should have already exited, mustering passengers in an area preferably upwind and away from the airplane, with an extinguisher and crash axe in hand. Where is the leadership here. Sauntering away from the plane with only one exit open and the crew carrying personal belongings. SMH.

The feds and my chiefs would have my head over this.