Astraeus STN - Iceland engine fail
 

From a passenger on board an Astraeus B737-300 last night, operating for Iceland Express from STN to somewhere in Iceland:

After takeoff, while still climbing, popping sound and flames from the left (number 1) engine. RPM decreased and aircraft yawed. Cabin crew did PA, and aircraft landed safely in STN.

Anyone else hear anything?

97 Pax and 5 Crewmembers.
T/O was 20:05 and they landed 20:27. Some passengers talked about a little smoke. Aswell they said everything was done in the most proffessional way. Replacement A/C was flown in from Gatwick which landed at STN 22:09.

Well done.;)

My my, I flew on this aircraft (G-STRB) just the day before (thursday). I even took some photographs of the engine (sat beside it in 8A), but I hope that wasn't the reason for it breaking down :)

Do any of you know what aircraft Astraeus provided as an replacement while the other one is being fixed? If they won't be done fixing it by tuesday, then I will probably get to fly back home to Iceland in the replacement jet :D

G-STRG me thinks was the replacement, saw it on the stand next to the Iceland Express -300.

With all due respect......

Why do we need to know this information?

It is a sensational post about a non event, and really does more harm than good at a time when airlines need all the help they can get.

Frosty,

Not sure what's sensational about my post. My brother was on the aircraft, and called me for advice afterwards, as I am a professional airline pilot and TRE. He was concerned about whether to fly on the subsequent service. I think that an engine failure is an interesting and noteworthy event, and that we might all gain from knowledge about it, which is what I requested.

If you want sensation, let the papers know about it, and they will make some up. I just want facts.

Hooperfly,
Totally agree with you mate.
Frosty Hoar,
"Near disaster as Astraeus 737 staggers back to Stansted after catastrophic engine failure...................................."
Now that would have been sensational. I hardly think a question to ascertain the events of a flight on which a family member was travelling is too unreasonable.
On the 'non-event' point, most professional pilots will go through their entire careers without suffering an engine failure, due to the incredible reliability of todays engines.
Also, in the case of a twin engined aeroplane, 'Land at the nearest suitable airfield' is a requirement after suffering an engine failure. Hardly a non-event.
Ask the crew of the Astraeus 737 involved if they considered what happened a non-event. They dealt with it very professionally, in a calm and competent manner, but I'm sure they wouldn't be arrogant enough to call it a non-event.
Yes, professional pilots are thoroughly trained to cope with situations like these, but don't belittle the seriousness of such an event.

"My brother was on the aircraft, and called me for advice afterwards, as I am a professional airline pilot and TRE. He was concerned about whether to fly on the subsequent service."

--------- and you felt you needed to ask on pprune??????????

Hmmm.

Most "professional airline pilot and TRE" s would be able to answer that themselves!

"I think that an engine failure is an interesting and noteworthy event, and that we might all gain from knowledge about it, which is what I requested."

Ok, taking you at face value, then, what exactly did you want to know - apart from what your brother told you?

As a ""professional airline pilot and TRE" based at LHR on Airbus, I cannot really see what else you need to know that you cannot find out from the subsequent report?

Try: Engine failed in the climb, crew carried out appropriate drill and landed at STN with no apparent further problems.

Apart from MY keeping this thread going :( [sorry Astraeus guys and girls!], this really is one thread that needs to 'die'!

Well, while being far from"newsworthy", the event itself was very well handled by all the crew concerned. The First Officer was under training and did a superb job.

We replaced the services with G-STRE, our newest 737-300 (in service for the first time the day before!)

So Thank you Des, for job well done. Thanks to the Icelandic Cabin Crew for handling the passenger side of things.....and thanks guys for your interest in the whole thing.

Now for a more appropriate home for the thread.............


H

Sorry to keep it going but anyway....


Hooperfly-

"let the papers know about it"

With 1347 views I suspect they are already aware as has been the case previously on this forum.

Far from looking for sensation as a fellow airline employee I am vindicating the opposite.

The numbers speak for themselves, 1347 people viewed
your post, only eight of which responded albeit two of those in a negative manner.

If you wish to "establish the facts" why not explain who you are and ring up the airline, although as BOAC points out it is difficult to see why you would need to do so given your credentials, I hope the "facts" gained were worth it.

Ratarsed

No it is not unreasonable to find out what happened, it is the manner in which it was done that I am questioning.

Thankyou for those pearls of wisdom, your patronising manner assumes that I have no knowledge of the subject matter and yet YOU accuse me of arrogance.

I am well aware of the implications of engine failure (and worse) having experienced the situation several times within my company, and indeed I have debriefed crews after the event , indeed it is personal experience that drives my reaction.
Yes I am sure that this was not a non event for the crew involved , and I am equally sure that they would not want it plastered all over pprune, as in the context of THIS FORUM a non event occurred.

Perhaps in future I will post an account of everthing that occurs in my company (90 aircraft) , from hydraulic leaks to tailstrikes (all of which can be perceived as "interesting and noteworthy"), and see how the crews involved feel about it.

I had seen this post earlier in another forum section and felt that the answer to the first part would be a simple “yes” possibly followed by a note that the aircraft was taken out of service for an engine change. end of story

I was surprised by the subsequent responses, with neither a “yes” or “no” to the first part and even more surprised by the movement of the post to the forums Safety Section

Regardless of the cause of the initiating engine problem (typically an internal problem with the aerodynamics) the symptoms, surge/stall/popping/bangs followed by flame out the tailpipe, are quite common signals for an engine failure and of course a decrease in RPM and yawing are further signals that the engine is likely not suitable for further use without maintenance. The further signals of this in the cockpit are dancing gages (during the popping) followed by N1/N2 decrease and EGT increase. The operating manuals are quite typically quite clear about both the pilot’s recommended actions as well as the required maintenance follow up.

The report continues to sound routine and I can’t imagine that anybody would take the time to follow this up even on this forum.

cheers

As mentioned earlier (post #3 from top), I flew on G-STRB just the day before the engine failed. It seems that they are still changing the engine, as I flew home to Iceland today on G-STRE (a pleasant surprise by the way - adds a new reg# to my list).

Hey guys, how about some civility in the posts. No need for the points-scoring.

Regarding the engine failure, another example of a well-trained crew going about their job in a very professional manner. By all accounts everything very well-handled by both flight and cabin crew.

Let's all hope that if it ever happens to us that we'll do as well as this crew did. Congrats to all concerned.

The subject aircraft was today sitting outside the diamond hangar,having successfully completed engine runs following the engine change.How about a 'well done' for the team that got the a/c 's' again?

All points made - No further action required!

BlueEagle - Moderator.