Engineers - any sign of ash damage so far?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: UK
Posts: 2,584
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Engineers - any sign of ash damage so far?
To all you engineers out there, have you seen any physical sign of damage to engines/airframes/systems following the recent volcanic ash event in Europe?
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: the OFCR......and probably somewhere over China zzzzzzzz
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My cup of tea seemed to have a rather powdery taste up at FL350 today.........perhaps thats was just for insulting the crew though?? 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: near EDDF
Posts: 775
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Agaricus bisporus
...have you seen any physical sign of damage to engines/airframes/systems following the recent volcanic ash event in Europe?...
NO
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: belgium
Posts: 236
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A captain came to me this week that he smelled something. F/O did not however. We investigated, some grey dust in ram air exhausts, but I think most of it is already there for years. All our aircraft have the same grey layer, also the ones that didn't fly in the cloud. We began to see things just because you pay attention to them. So I guess no damage till now.
In Oostende an MD11 was grounded, news reports said because of ash found in engines. However a collegue in Oostende told me they grounded it in waiting for a borescope. I suspect this comes out to be nothing found.
In Oostende an MD11 was grounded, news reports said because of ash found in engines. However a collegue in Oostende told me they grounded it in waiting for a borescope. I suspect this comes out to be nothing found.
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Sunrise Senior Living
Posts: 1,338
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Had a brief chat with out chief engineer yesterday - no signs of ash in a very comprehensive monitoring program including boro inspections.
Europe wide network - CFM
Europe wide network - CFM
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: east of 10° west
Age: 62
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
correct Intruder
Looks like the flight ban through the ash cloud worked!
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: formby
Age: 39
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
dont come all high and mighty with me mate i know how plane engines work and i dont see how ash can get in a oil system if ash can get in then oil can get out ..right
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Maybe not 'ash' in the oil.
But reports after volcanic ash encounters (eg. the NASA DC-8 Incident in 2000) include references to very high levels of SULPHUR in the oil. This was taken as a confirmation that the aircraft had indeed gone through an ash plume. Sensors that happened to be on the aircraft also recorded high levels of SO2 in the outside air - so that's the route by which the sulphur gets into the oil.
But reports after volcanic ash encounters (eg. the NASA DC-8 Incident in 2000) include references to very high levels of SULPHUR in the oil. This was taken as a confirmation that the aircraft had indeed gone through an ash plume. Sensors that happened to be on the aircraft also recorded high levels of SO2 in the outside air - so that's the route by which the sulphur gets into the oil.
Spannersatcx says
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: EGGW
Posts: 2,112
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yet again we have some excellent posts from spannersatcx.
Which is why the engine manufactures are telling airlines to check oil filters for ash contamination.
This is why my company is sampling some engines across its fleets at reduced intervals, this to be on the safe side.
Which is why the engine manufactures are telling airlines to check oil filters for ash contamination.
This is why my company is sampling some engines across its fleets at reduced intervals, this to be on the safe side.
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: `
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just Googled Labyrinth seals. I had seen them before but had no idea what they were called (sort of seems obvious now). 
It is sort of a closed system that is open. A Labyrinth seal is an oxymoron.
Thanks guys for todays education.
It is sort of a closed system that is open. A Labyrinth seal is an oxymoron.Thanks guys for todays education.