swarf in fuel tanks blocked the fuel filters
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Holland/Scotland
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
swarf in fuel tanks blocked the fuel filters
Swarf in fuel tanks blocked the fuel filters,on a B757 i was flying causing one of the RR Rb211 535e4 engines to fail on short final.We performed a single engined landing. Subsequently the engineers informed us the swarf contamination was so bad that we were minutes away from the other failing as well. We had flown across the atlantic ,and up and down to Sao Palo many times in this aircraft,were we lucky or what . I wonder if any one else out there has had engines failing due to SWARF.
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Merriott, Somerset, UK
Age: 78
Posts: 229
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I know of a case of multiple fuel boost pumps failing due to FOD after modifications to the wing of a Gulf.IV. This caused the aircraft to imediately divert and land.
So how about sharing what SWARF means please Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Switzerland
Age: 55
Posts: 386
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: 30W
Age: 56
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
SWARF
On this occasion Swarf is not an acronym but an engineering term to describe the metal shavings that are produced during manuafacturing processes such as turning on a lathe or drilling holes in metal.
Now what do yours stand for?
Now what do yours stand for?
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: YORKSHIRE
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
swarf in fuel tanks blocked the fuel filters
Swarf in fuel tanks blocked the fuel filters,on a B757 i was flying causing one of the RR Rb211 535e4 engines to fail on short final.We performed a single engined landing. Subsequently the engineers informed us the swarf contamination was so bad that we were minutes away from the other failing as well. We had flown across the atlantic ,and up and down to Sao Palo many times in this aircraft,were we lucky or what . I wonder if any one else out there has had engines failing due to SWARF.
Any chance of a link to an official incident report?
or did you make it up?
pvm
Swarf in fuel tanks blocked the fuel filters,on a B757 i was flying causing one of the RR Rb211 535e4 engines to fail on short final.We performed a single engined landing. Subsequently the engineers informed us the swarf contamination was so bad that we were minutes away from the other failing as well. We had flown across the atlantic ,and up and down to Sao Palo many times in this aircraft,were we lucky or what . I wonder if any one else out there has had engines failing due to SWARF.
Any chance of a link to an official incident report?
or did you make it up?
pvm
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Holland/Scotland
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
SWARF
Avman ,swarf are aluminium particles drill bit residues,etc which acumulates during the construction in the fuel tanks and is supposed to be removed before the delivery of your new multi million pound aeroplane In this case the aircraft flew for 6 months extensively over water before all the filters blocked up. This aircraft was UK Caa registered,makes you wonder does it not 
?
?
PersonalTitle to help support PPRuNe against legal bullying.
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: France
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So I guess the question has been asked as to which recent intervention on the aircraft created this swarf....? As it is a 757 I assume that this stuff did not just suddenly get dislodged (after spending many years stuck in a corner of a tank)?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Holland/Scotland
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ppvvmm/Swarf
No I did not make it up.
You want an official report try UK CAA
Or Boeing in Seattle,you could even phone them if you are so desperate.
You want an official report try UK CAA
Or Boeing in Seattle,you could even phone them if you are so desperate.
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Southern Europe
Posts: 318
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Nojh
If the aircraft flew for 6 months without a "issue", I would guess that the "junk" came, either, on the the fuel that was uplifted to the aircraft or, more sinister, the fuel pumps itself could be disintegrating to bits in its operation.
Just my five cents.
Safe flights always!
Zero
If the aircraft flew for 6 months without a "issue", I would guess that the "junk" came, either, on the the fuel that was uplifted to the aircraft or, more sinister, the fuel pumps itself could be disintegrating to bits in its operation.
Just my five cents.
Safe flights always!
Zero
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: on the way...
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Not long ago our mechanics had to change one CFM-56 engines. The pieces of metal have been found in oil. In this case they had advice from FAA to check up this series of engines. (I think there was a manufacturer problem with one of the bearings on turbine shaft.) 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: West Sussex
Posts: 1,771
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Zerograph,
your idea of disintegrating fuel pumps sounds most likely to me - and filters, unless very special, don't 'bypass' they either fail & let stuff through, or clog & stop flow !
Where are the filters in line re. the pumps ? Presumably after the pumps...uptaking fuel with swarf seems possible but I'd have thought there are several filters, in & outside the aircraft before the tanks to prevent that.
your idea of disintegrating fuel pumps sounds most likely to me - and filters, unless very special, don't 'bypass' they either fail & let stuff through, or clog & stop flow !
Where are the filters in line re. the pumps ? Presumably after the pumps...uptaking fuel with swarf seems possible but I'd have thought there are several filters, in & outside the aircraft before the tanks to prevent that.
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: In my head
Posts: 694
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Can someone please provide the link to the AAIB reports on this one? At rik of understatement, it's important to know where the swarf came from. Personally speaking I am not desperate, but I do like to think I am sensible, and it seems slightly silly for someone to come here and report it happened to them, and then be reluctant to provide a link, and vaguely obtuse about it.
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Manchester
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Zerograph,
your idea of disintegrating fuel pumps sounds most likely to me - and filters, unless very special, don't 'bypass' they either fail & let stuff through, or clog & stop flow !
your idea of disintegrating fuel pumps sounds most likely to me - and filters, unless very special, don't 'bypass' they either fail & let stuff through, or clog & stop flow !
Wouldn't have thought disintegrating fuel pumps on both sides.... If it was 6 months off delivery it will probabally be build up of swarf over the period
As for filter bypass being 'special'...are you sure now ?
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: England
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Careful now......
Come on now fellow Ppruners....the journos may be watching, ready to put 2 and 2 together to make...."BA 777 brought down by iron filings"
You heard it here first!
You heard it here first!