JAL 747 ingests cargo container

Sarah C · #1 12th May 2009, 11:17 AM

Quote:

"A Japan Airlines flight has been grounded at Los Angeles airport after a large object was sucked into one of the plane's engines, officials say.

They say the incident happened as JAL flight 62 was leaving one of the airport's gates.

Television footage showed the object - believed to be a cargo container - wedged into the engine.

All 245 passengers on board were taken off the plane and escorted to the terminal. No injuries were reported.

Los Angeles World Airports, the agency which operates the airport, says an investigation is currently under way."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8045086.stm

It reminds me of the (in)famous Delta photo!

Gerard M · #2 12th May 2009, 11:26 AM

Would that sort of accident leave the engine with much damage?

NickN · #3 12th May 2009, 12:17 PM

Yes. Big square metal objects weren't designed to go through jet engines, nor were jet engines designed to eat them.

Greg McDonald · #4 12th May 2009, 12:49 PM

Wonder if it was a load of Sushi....

NickN · #5 12th May 2009, 12:59 PM

If it wasn't before it is now, those fan blades would have sliced it nice and thin.

Bill S · #6 12th May 2009, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gerard M

Would that sort of accident leave the engine with much damage?

Likely to have no damage to the engine at all, as the container can't get far enough in to hit the blades - but the inlet cowling will have a new nasty dents & scratches.

Rhys Xanthis · #7 12th May 2009, 04:17 PM

Will the internals be damaged because of a lack/disruption of airflow?

Or is that not a problem, even at full thrust (which this wasn't)

Gerard M · #8 12th May 2009, 05:14 PM

http://media.smh.com.au/national/bre...er-515030.html

Just saw this video. Looks like the offending container is a LAN Cargo container.

Grahame Hutchison · #9 12th May 2009, 05:47 PM

Unless it was extremely windy, how could a container get out to that location - they don't have wheels.

Bill S · #10 12th May 2009, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhys Xanthis

Will the internals be damaged because of a lack/disruption of airflow?

Or is that not a problem, even at full thrust (which this wasn't)

It'd only be at idle so not a problem.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grahame Hutchison

Unless it was extremely windy, how could a container get out to that location - they don't have wheels.

Yeah most likely very windy - I've had that happen once in Jeddah, when a front of severe weather came through and the airport was utter shambles for an hour. We had the runway changed and when crossing from one side to the other (16C to 34L) we saw a heap of containers strewn around all over the place, some still moving. We managed to avoid them and get out of there.
(Jeddah and places like that have an unusual effect on the V1 speed/decision speed for takeoff - You reach V1 as soon as you leave the hotel.

)