Jet engine explodes on runway, Airbus A330
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Jet engine backfires on runway, Airbus A330
It was an explosion by the first definition - it says 'as is'. The casing contained the explosion.
It is incredible the noise and visual effects a mere "surge" can have, and cause little/no damage.Was the runway closed for sometime afterwards requiring debris to be removed? If not, then to me anyway it was not an "explosion"
If we want non specialist terms, then "backfire" might be more appropriate - we shall see (or maybe not - unlikely any AAIB follow up).
Looked as though the incident was nicely handled, little deviation from the centre line & the rudder input was there immediately. Aircraft came safely to a stop & EGCC emergency vehicles right there, good helpful ATC. You would rather not go through this normally I suppose, but if you had to, this is the way to do it.
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Spotters and the Press call it an explosion. I've also seen it sensationally described as an explosion and uncontained engine failure. 
Professionals assess it to be a surge, possibly caused by birdstrike, and a correctly executed RTO. All told, text book.
Shall we leave it at that and leave each faction to believe what they want to believe.
Such a shame PPRuNe has to cope with such petty squabbling.
Professionals assess it to be a surge, possibly caused by birdstrike, and a correctly executed RTO. All told, text book.
Shall we leave it at that and leave each faction to believe what they want to believe.
Such a shame PPRuNe has to cope with such petty squabbling.
Last edited by StoneyBridge Radar; 25th Jun 2013 at 09:20.
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Such a shame a site for "Professionals" is marred by hysterical and inaccurate meeja descriptions like "explosion" and "uncontained" engine failure.
If people don't understand very basic technical terminology they're better off just not using them.
If people don't understand very basic technical terminology they're better off just not using them.
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Very nice job by the pilots. Really calm on the radio after stopped. But this aircraft has had a lot of problems with the number 2 engine:- 
The Aviation Herald
The Aviation Herald
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Heres a longer version of the video, shows the emergency services and the aircraft moving off the runway.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjDR...e_gdata_player
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjDR...e_gdata_player
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It's for the very reason that people mirepresent airline incidents and use the wrong terminology that we should be vigilant. A compressor stall or surge is fairly insignificant in modern flying and should be reported and treated as such on aviation forums. There are enough scare-mongers out there without us adding to the sensationalism. I suggest that if someone doesn't know the difference between a surge and an explosion they should stick to the thread in the spotters balcony
The point made very succintly by Checkboard:
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This containment test demonstrates what catastrophic destruction of a modern jet engine really looks like...
Such a failure is a completely different phenomenon to compressor surge as has already been noted by more sage minds than mine.
Such a failure is a completely different phenomenon to compressor surge as has already been noted by more sage minds than mine.
Professionals assess it to be a surge, possibly caused by birdstrike, and a correctly executed RTO. All told, text book
Caco, thanks for that video of an actual engine explosion. Instructive.
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But this aircraft has had a lot of problems with the number 2 engine:-
The Aviation Herald
The Aviation Herald
Paxing All Over The World
Text book stuff.
I was amused by the video title 'jet engine explodes on runway' - which of course it did not. I guess even the most pro of videographers want to attract more views of the items they post.
So, was it brake cooling and then depart?
I was amused by the video title 'jet engine explodes on runway' - which of course it did not. I guess even the most pro of videographers want to attract more views of the items they post.
So, was it brake cooling and then depart?