What causes this large GE90 VIB difference?

Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,729
Likes: 105
From: The Winchester
What Jet II said, that magnitude of difference is not that unusual.
OTOH a lot of the numbers on the screenshot are remarkably well "matched" for a pair of engines on the wing. (especially EGT, N2 and Fuel flow).
OTOH a lot of the numbers on the screenshot are remarkably well "matched" for a pair of engines on the wing. (especially EGT, N2 and Fuel flow).

Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 245
Likes: 3
From: between supple thighs
Jet II, there are no limits on vibration, there is no amber or red line.
Yes the auto popup of the secondary engine instruments will occur at 4.0units.
Boeing does not publish AVM procedures on EICAS equipped airplanes unless the engine manufacturers provide "hard" AVM limits. Boeing recommends that the AVM system be used for long term engine condition trend monitoring. This can be accomplished by the flight crew recording the AVM values in the airplane log book during stabilised cruiser by automatic recording as appropriate.
In line with the above, flight crews in the absence of published AVM procedures, not to shutdown engine/s based solely on high AVM indications. However, high AVM indications combined with other abnormal engine indications, extreme vibrations, severe damage, and/or engine limit exceedances should be addressed in accordance with the appropriate non-normal checklist.
Yes the auto popup of the secondary engine instruments will occur at 4.0units.
Boeing does not publish AVM procedures on EICAS equipped airplanes unless the engine manufacturers provide "hard" AVM limits. Boeing recommends that the AVM system be used for long term engine condition trend monitoring. This can be accomplished by the flight crew recording the AVM values in the airplane log book during stabilised cruiser by automatic recording as appropriate.
In line with the above, flight crews in the absence of published AVM procedures, not to shutdown engine/s based solely on high AVM indications. However, high AVM indications combined with other abnormal engine indications, extreme vibrations, severe damage, and/or engine limit exceedances should be addressed in accordance with the appropriate non-normal checklist.




Joined: Feb 2002
Aviation Qualifications: AME
Posts: 4,183
Likes: 1,119
From: UK
It is indeed a robust bit of kit.
From GE90-115B Completes 11,000 Cycles of its Unprecedented Maturation Program | GE Aviation
However, high N2 vibration (above 4.0 units) has been the cause of VBV actuator fuel line failures including one in flight fire and shutdown.
Page 27 of this report is worth looking at.
http://dgca.nic.in/accident/reports/A6-EBO.pdf
In December 2003, a second development engine completed 3,000-cycle ETOPS ground demonstration and three 330-minute diversions at GE's test facility in Peebles, Ohio. During the ETOPS ground demonstration, the development engine was the first GE90-115B engine to operate at more than two times the production vibration limits in both the high-pressure and low-pressure systems at multiple thrust levels. This engine is currently undergoing a complete teardown and piece-part inspection to identify leading indicators of durability issues.
However, high N2 vibration (above 4.0 units) has been the cause of VBV actuator fuel line failures including one in flight fire and shutdown.
Page 27 of this report is worth looking at.
http://dgca.nic.in/accident/reports/A6-EBO.pdf


Joined: Dec 2002
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 3,985
Likes: 568
From: Where the Quaboag River flows, USA
tdracer,
Unfortunately, he probably is.
At one time in the past, pilots were expected to actually, you know, know the mechanicals in their airplanes. No more, part of the dumbing down process.
Unfortunately, he probably is.
At one time in the past, pilots were expected to actually, you know, know the mechanicals in their airplanes. No more, part of the dumbing down process.
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,271
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From: West Country

Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,729
Likes: 105
From: The Winchester
I suspect some of theses queries are from flight simmers et.al. ( I have suspicions about the EGTs and other parameters being so well matched in the OP, but maybe the OP got lucky).
Failing that some companies are producing ops manuals that are not fit for purpose..( see threads on the likes of LNAV/VNAV, etc ..but if that is the case the worrying thing is we are sharing airspace with these companies aircraft and crew......
Failing that some companies are producing ops manuals that are not fit for purpose..( see threads on the likes of LNAV/VNAV, etc ..but if that is the case the worrying thing is we are sharing airspace with these companies aircraft and crew......

Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,729
Likes: 105
From: The Winchester
I see what you mean - in which case if the OP had explained their background it might have reduced some of the more critical replies the OP got, and perhaps improved the answers because they could have been given in the context a PPL would understand.. ..
I'm not sure if the OP has gone off radar as the result of some posts but we still don't know where he/she got the snapshot from...... and in any case at least a hint of a thank you might nice....
I'm not sure if the OP has gone off radar as the result of some posts but we still don't know where he/she got the snapshot from...... and in any case at least a hint of a thank you might nice....
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1
Likes: 2
From: nowhere
Now that you guys have hopefully finished with the condescending remarks, perhaps we could continue the conversation. Some replies did give a good reminding information about vibration and I now have an incident report that I plan to read. Thanks to those posters.
I expect that tdracer has some more good information that he could post on the subject which is what normally happens. Obviously, making useless comments on a thread by people who don't know what they are talking about is frustrating(as we frequently) but a technical question that is obvously showing that the person is a neophyte can lead to some interesting info, if we don't intimidate them off the board.
I expect that tdracer has some more good information that he could post on the subject which is what normally happens. Obviously, making useless comments on a thread by people who don't know what they are talking about is frustrating(as we frequently) but a technical question that is obvously showing that the person is a neophyte can lead to some interesting info, if we don't intimidate them off the board.
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 326
Likes: 1
From: Or-E-Gun, USA
For the most part, a Non-Event, unless the differences are very great. To next stop or - we hope, a Mx base, you'll get there, even if one or both have to be tuned back a bit. Once at your Mx base, RAISE HELL, even of one or both engines need a change. Personally, I would not fly it again, without a dual engine change, but we all have slightly different standards. If you do not like it - history or current performance, so not fly it.
That's a truly great airplane and engine combo, but the secondary market may not be paying the attention that they should. Suggesting nothing, the crews on these antiques DO need to be alert for all indicators. Mx at some carriers is sub-standard yet still 'legal,' and seats 0A and 0B ought to know their immediate potential for problems. It the start and run up is a four-minute procedure, give it six. You know the drill and you do want to get home that night or the next.
That's a truly great airplane and engine combo, but the secondary market may not be paying the attention that they should. Suggesting nothing, the crews on these antiques DO need to be alert for all indicators. Mx at some carriers is sub-standard yet still 'legal,' and seats 0A and 0B ought to know their immediate potential for problems. It the start and run up is a four-minute procedure, give it six. You know the drill and you do want to get home that night or the next.
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1
Likes: 2
From: nowhere
For the most part, a Non-Event, unless the differences are very great. To next stop or - we hope, a Mx base, you'll get there, even if one or both have to be tuned back a bit. Once at your Mx base, RAISE HELL, even of one or both engines need a change. Personally, I would not fly it again, without a dual engine change, but we all have slightly different standards.
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: Europe, Africa
I am happy when I see VIB numbers like those.
Above 2 I start to advise maintenance. Not because it is at limit but because of the CC advising me of the irritating resonance in the aircraft.
(Captain B737NG, 11K+ hrs.)
Above 2 I start to advise maintenance. Not because it is at limit but because of the CC advising me of the irritating resonance in the aircraft.
(Captain B737NG, 11K+ hrs.)

Joined: Aug 2009
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 616
Likes: 57
From: GPS L INVALID
The only time I've complained to maintenance about engine vibration in the 777 was when my personal vibration detectors in fingers and butt detected an exceedance - the whole plane vibrated at 10-20 Hz around 80-85 N1, really uncomfortable on a long sector. Never saw anything higher than 1.8 units vibration indicated that time.





