AF66 CDG-LAX diverts - uncontained engine failure over Atlantic
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: phoenix az
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Still on the plane
Here are my pics, videos and what not. It's been a long day, glad to be alive though. https://nonbiasedreviews.com/air-fra...ngine-blew-up/
You could check it out on my UK or French site if you would prefer. https://nonbiasedreviews.co.uk/passenger-on-af66/
You could check it out on my UK or French site if you would prefer. https://nonbiasedreviews.co.uk/passenger-on-af66/
Last edited by Nonbiased; 1st Oct 2017 at 07:58. Reason: I have a UK/FR site
Guest
Posts: n/a
Just my unqualified opinion but I doubt if this bird will be ferried anywhere for some time until a substantial overstress inspection has been satisfactorily completed. How long might it take to make that inspection?
...oops and the above reconstructive surgery.
...oops and the above reconstructive surgery.
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Down under
Age: 54
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I would love to hear the cockpit CVR, I’m sure it would make a good training tool. Sitting there quiet quietly in cruise when suddenly all hell breaks loose. I wonder how many ECAM alerts they had in total, I recall the Quantas crew being somewhat overwhelmed by them.
Relieved that everyone landed safely and has a story to tell their grandkids. Hopefully there is no reason to ground aircraft with the same engine.
Relieved that everyone landed safely and has a story to tell their grandkids. Hopefully there is no reason to ground aircraft with the same engine.
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Hornby Island, British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canada
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
(2) An aircraft that has been involved in a reportable aviation occurrence, other than a reportable incident, cannot be moved without the express permission of the Canadian Transportation Accident Investigation & Safety Board in accordance with Transportation Safety Board Regulations.
TC is really tight about allowing aircraft to do three engine ferry flights nowadays. Even with a Avro RJ they wouldn't allow it when we had an engine pooch up north in the boonies. Plane & crew was fully capable & certified for it. Although this is a foreign registered/operated aircraft so there may be some back & forth.
This is of course if the 380 is even certified to do three-engine-ferry (ie: training and procedures are developed for it and approved).
There's also a difference between "ferry flight with one engine inoperative" VS "ferry flight with one engine missing (or partially)". Notwithstanding the famous early-90's ferry flight of a 146 out of South America where they took all of #3 (I think?) off.
Last edited by plhought; 1st Oct 2017 at 07:10. Reason: Additional comment
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Usually firmly on the ground
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
2 Posts
Video from AF66 and transfer
The YouTube channel "nonbiased reviews" has a couple of videos allegedly from the cabin and showing the first-class transfer to the first replacement aircraft to have arrived.
I can't post the link (not enough posts) but it's easily findable from the above.
I can't post the link (not enough posts) but it's easily findable from the above.
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: L.A.
Age: 56
Posts: 579
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Comparison with RR failure
This may be a much more serious failure, than the Quantas A380 RR failure. The reason the RR failure became serious, is that the turbune section is under the wing, and so the wing was peppered with schrapnel, causing multiple secondary failures. Which were heroically dealt with.
However, in this EA failure the entire N1 hub has fractured and the entire N1 fan departed (those 'blades' you can see are the stators behind the missing fan). And the N1 fan is deliberately positioned ahead of the wing to reduce secondary damage (which is why jet and piston engines poke out the front of the wing, on nearly all aircraft). But had this huge fan hit something on the way out, like the El Al 747 engine that came lose out of Schiphol, the secondary airframe and engine failures could have been catastrophic. They were lucky that the fan flew off without hitting anything (as it can fly off in any direction).
I see fleet groundings from this, as this may be a much more fundamental and serious problem, than the RR failure. The RR failure was a simple component manufacture issue, that leaked oil into a bearing and overheated it. So the rectification was to ensure that one small component costing a few dollars was manufactured correctly. A simple rectification. But why did a complete N1 fan fail and depart? (an almost unheard of failure). Could it have been something simple, like an oil pipe fracture starving the bearing? There is an amount of oil staining on the cowl, which may point towards oil loss, before the failure. Conversely, if this was a design problem in the strength of the N1 shaft, then all these EA engines will have to be grounded, for a complete redesign and overhaul.
Only time will tell.
Silver
However, in this EA failure the entire N1 hub has fractured and the entire N1 fan departed (those 'blades' you can see are the stators behind the missing fan). And the N1 fan is deliberately positioned ahead of the wing to reduce secondary damage (which is why jet and piston engines poke out the front of the wing, on nearly all aircraft). But had this huge fan hit something on the way out, like the El Al 747 engine that came lose out of Schiphol, the secondary airframe and engine failures could have been catastrophic. They were lucky that the fan flew off without hitting anything (as it can fly off in any direction).
I see fleet groundings from this, as this may be a much more fundamental and serious problem, than the RR failure. The RR failure was a simple component manufacture issue, that leaked oil into a bearing and overheated it. So the rectification was to ensure that one small component costing a few dollars was manufactured correctly. A simple rectification. But why did a complete N1 fan fail and depart? (an almost unheard of failure). Could it have been something simple, like an oil pipe fracture starving the bearing? There is an amount of oil staining on the cowl, which may point towards oil loss, before the failure. Conversely, if this was a design problem in the strength of the N1 shaft, then all these EA engines will have to be grounded, for a complete redesign and overhaul.
Only time will tell.
Silver
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: L.A.
Age: 56
Posts: 579
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
3-engine ferry RJ
Regards 3-engine ferries, I have done a 3-engine ferry on a 146. Simple as pie, with an empty aircraft. But the engine has to be secured, to prevent rotation. You roll with two symmetric engines, and then bring in the third after 80 knots.
This A380 would need a thorough inspection, but no reason it cannot do a 3-engine ferry with just a bare pilon and no engine. As long as all the ancillaries are secured, it would be easier without the engine than with. One of the prime reasons for the fat cowling on jets, is to reduce drag after an engine fails. Having no cowl would increase drag beyond the 3-engine ferry certification data.
Silver
This A380 would need a thorough inspection, but no reason it cannot do a 3-engine ferry with just a bare pilon and no engine. As long as all the ancillaries are secured, it would be easier without the engine than with. One of the prime reasons for the fat cowling on jets, is to reduce drag after an engine fails. Having no cowl would increase drag beyond the 3-engine ferry certification data.
Silver
This A380 would need a thorough inspection, but no reason it cannot do a 3-engine ferry with just a bare pilon and no engine. As long as all the ancillaries are secured, it would be easier without the engine than with. One of the prime reasons for the fat cowling on jets, is to reduce drag after an engine fails. Having no cowl would increase drag beyond the 3-engine ferry certification data.
With regard to a 3 engine ferry, we know it can fly and land with 3, so surely it's simply a matter of can it get off the ground on 3 when empty-ish?!?! Should be a simple paperwork job ;-)
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Dallas, TX USA
Posts: 739
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Shaft missing
Looking at the photos, the fan shaft appears to be missing, indicating a shaft failure and fan departure. I imagine a shaft failure would result in a spinning fan departing forward then falling forward and down, taking the fan case with it.The forward motion would be very brief, but enough to clear the plane.
Last edited by Flight Safety; 1st Oct 2017 at 09:04. Reason: Addition
GE/Pratt design practice is that if the LP shaft breaks, it'll move aft enough that the turbine blades will clash with the turbine nozzles in a controlled manner to bring the shaft to a stop. Otherwise the unloaded LP shaft will quickly overspeed (Rolls had issues with this on the RB211 about 35 years ago - cut the back off a 747 engine when the LP turbine came apart).
The issue with the GEnx fan shaft was related to use of the wrong anti-seize compound during assembly of the fan shaft - this caused stress corrosion which then failed the shaft.
The issue with the GEnx fan shaft was related to use of the wrong anti-seize compound during assembly of the fan shaft - this caused stress corrosion which then failed the shaft.
As an engineer it's always frustrating when the people building your design don't build it in the way one has specified. Grrr.
With regard to a 3 engine ferry, we know it can fly and land with 3, so surely it's simply a matter of can it get off the ground on 3 when empty-ish?!?! Should be a simple paperwork job ;-)
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Bremen
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Some of our guys were (and probably still are ) certified to do it on the 747/744 but it involved the handling pilot (usually management ) having done the appropriate sim work up and some slightly cunning procedures that had no doubt been certified by Boeing by virtue of flight testing. There was always had an inert engine, or at least it's core, on the appropriate pylon.
Must be having issues getting the 777 out it’s still on the ground in Goose Bay they estimated it out of there 2.5hrs ago.
EDIT: Just started up, looks like it’s going to Atlanta I assume to refuel.
Journey from absolute hell.
EDIT: Just started up, looks like it’s going to Atlanta I assume to refuel.
Journey from absolute hell.
I seem to recall that the R.R. Spey had a cable & lever system that would close the HP fuel valve should the LP shaft move rearwards; the old designers had thought it possible!!