QF74 - Engine Failure

[Tony G]

Nice Shot Tim, been a while since i have seen the extra engine. Used to see a few a while ago.

[Stuart Trevena]

Hi All,

Great shot Tim.

Thanks for sharing it!!

It's not that often you see a 5th pod on a 744.

Also, the engine on the 5th pod looks different to the others.
It wouldn't be a RB211-524 from B743 by chance?
Or is it just missing it's painted cowl?

With the 5pod, does that mean a Different flight path? or a Stopover for Fuel?

Finally, would the cruising height be affected?

Please advise

Stuart

[Trevor Sinclair]

AWESOME shot Tim!

[damien b]

From smh.com.au - according to the article an airworthiness directives were issued for Rolls-Royce RB211 engines requiring inspections at the next maintenance interval due to possible "uncontained engine failure".

http://www.smh.com.au/travel/qantas-...901-14nnn.html

[Brenden S]

You basically have 3 series of RB211 engines

RB211-524D2 L1011 Boeing 747-200
RB211-524D4 Boeing 747-200 / -300
RB211-524G2/T/H Boeing 747-400 Boeing 767-300

The AD relates more to the D2 and D4 engines, however some investigating yesterday I found a AD for the G/H/T engines. The one I found was for compressor case cracking which could cause a unconfined failure. It appears though that with this engine that has failed that the whole disc has let go. It will certainly be interesting to see if a portion of the disc has actually cracked and flown out of the engine, which could some cause for concern. It is very typical for RR engines to develop cracking on the blades down at the root of the blade, and sometime in the dovetail. This is normally picked up on routine maintenance.

As for the engine, it may have well been the engine that was investigated a few years ago.

Matt, If there is a aircraft in for heavy maintenance, yes QF do rob parts off the aircraft to keep others going if there is no spares available. QF in Sydney have a section called V-Pod (5th pod) with all spare engines ready to go, so there is no real need to grab a engine off a aircraft in heavy maint.

Stu, there was a great post somewhere from Will Tidmarsh who was lucky enough to crew on a V-Pod one day. Perhaps do some searching and you will find it somewhere.

[Grant Smith]

audio between ATC and the Flight Deck

[Philip Argy]

ATSB has issued this media statement:

Two ATSB investigators today arrived in San Francisco to begin their investigation into the 30 August incident involving an Australian operated aircraft that experienced engine failure just outside of US airspace.

The plane was forced to return to San Francisco airport shortly after take-off due to a failure with its number 4 engine. The failure was mechanical in nature and led to ejected material puncturing a hole in the outboard engine and damaging the plane's flaps.

The investigators are expected to remain in San Francisco over the next few days to examine the engine and components and work with the operator and crew to determine the cause of the incident.

The engine will then be shipped to maintenance facilities in Hong Kong where it will be further examined by ATSB's technical investigators.

I think the information about the flaps having been damaged is a new piece of information, as is the proposal to ship it to Hong Kong for ATSB technical investigation

[Brett o]

I was wondering what will happen to the damaged engine. Firstly will the engine be written off? If not will it be repaired by Qantas I assume in Australia ( or Hong Kong) or in the UK by RR ?

[Brenden S]

The engine. It will be broken down into its modules and parts will be thrown away, and others rebuilt into the same engine or made into another engine.

[Fred C]

QF 6006 should be in at 0715 on Sun morning. I am guessing it will have a V-Pod fitted.