LESSON 001: Engine failure

ENGINE FAILURE

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ENGINE FAILURE

WHAT?

WHEN?

HOW?

WHAT DID?


ENGINE FAILURE

WHAT?

WHEN?

HOW?

WHAT DID?

On November 17, 2007, a Southwest Airlines' Boeing

737-300, registration number N676SW, flight number 438,

experienced a failure of the No. 2 engine, a

CFMI CFM56-3B1, while climbing through FL250 to FL330. The

flight crew reported feeling severe vibration, pulled both throttles back to idle, declared an emergency and started an air turn back to Love Field (DAL), Dallas TX.

While heading back the pilot reported seeing several cockpit warnings related to the No. 2 engine. The pilot reported closing the start lever on the No. 2 engine, continue back to DAL, and performed an uneventful single engine landing. No injuries were reported to any of the occupants. The flight was an IFR flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 121 from Dallas, Love Field, TX, to Little Rock (LIT), AR.


ENGINE FAILURE

Examination of the airplane revealed impact marks along the fuselage from about 10 feet aft of the right-hand forward entry door to about 6 feet forward of the right-hand aft entry door and almost along the entire length of right wing leading edge. The right horizontal stabilizer also exhibited impact marks along almost the entire leading edge. None of impact marks were punctures through fuselage. Examination of the engine revealed all the fan blades heavily damaged, all the fan blade roots remained installed in the disk, several fan blades fractured near the platform. The forward and rear spinner cones were no longer attached to the fan disk and a large penetration hole was noted on the right hand side of the fan cowl just forward of the engine fan case. No breaches of any of the engine cases or signs of fire damage were noted.


ENGINE FAILURE

Examination of the airplane revealed ___________ along the fuselage from about 10 feet aft of the right-hand forward __________ to about 6 feet forward of the right-hand aft entry door and almost along the entire length of right wing leading edge. The right _________________also exhibited impact marks along almost the entire ___________. None of impact marks were _________through fuselage. Examination of the engine revealed all ____________ heavily damaged, all the fan blade roots remained installed in the ________, several fan blades ________ near the ________ The forward and rear ___________ were no longer attached to the ________ and a large _____________ was noted on the right hand side of ___________ just forward of the _____________. No breaches of any of the engine cases or signs of fire damage were noted.

impact marks

entry door

horizontal stabilizer leading edge

punctures the fan blades

disk

fractured platform

spinner cones fan disk penetration hole

the fan cowl engine fan case


• Did you say that an impact mark was a puncture through the fuselage? • Did the investigation reveal that the fan blades were not damaged? • Is the spinner cone still attached to the fan disk? • Are there any signs of fire damage? • Confirm that no injuries were reported to any of the occupants.

ENGINE FAILURE


ENGINE FAILURE

• Confirm that you are experiencing an engine failure. “Affirmative. Engine Failure.” • Are you saying that several fan blades are fractured? “Negative. No fractures.” • Are you declaring an emergency? Affirmative. Mayday, Mayday.


ENGINE FAILURE

• Sorry Sir. I don`t understand what you are saying. Could you clarify? Sure. Let me say it another way.… • What do you mean by “engine cowling”? A removable metal covering for an engine. • Are the impact marks on the leading edge or on the horizontal stabilizer? They are on the leading edge.


ENGINE FAILURE

• Are engines more reliable today than they were in the past? • What is the difference between engine failure and engine fire? • What could be done to prevent an engine failure? •What is the difference between turbo fan and turbo prop aircraft?


Education

LESSON 001: Engine failure