Qantas 747 uncontained engine failure

[flee 5]

Pictures have emerged of the damaged Rolls-Royce RB211 engine on a Qantas Airlines Boeing 747-400 that experienced an uncontained engine failure on departure from the San Francisco International airport en route to Sydney late Monday night.

 

According to news reports, flight tracking and air traffic control communications from FlightAware.com and LiveATC,net, the aircraft was climbing through 25,000ft (7,620m) approximately 20 minutes after departure when it experienced the problem. Passengers described a loud bang followed by vibrations and sparks.

 

The pilots did not initially declare an emergency and would not provide details of the engine problem when queried by air traffic control, according to air traffic control conversations.

 

After dumping fuel over the Pacific ocean and descending for an approach back at San Francisco, the pilots did declare an emergency however.

 

One of the pilots onboard Flight 74, with 212 passengers and 18 crew onboard, later told ground controllers that there had been severe damage to the number 4 engine, and that a large amount of sparking continued even after the engine had been shut down.

 

None of the passengers or crew were injured.

 

More here: http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/08/31/346831/pictures-qantas-747-uncontained-engine-failure.html

 

And here: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/7954137/qantas-engine-explodes-mid-air

 

Liveatc.net audio: http://archive-server.liveatc.net/ksfo/ZOA-SFO-Aug-31-2010-0630Z.mp3

[Mohd Suhaimi Fariz 2]

I wonder why did the pilots delayed declaring an emergency. If they declared it early, would they have to land overweight or will they be allowed to dump the fuel?

[alberttky 0]

I wonder why did the pilots delayed declaring an emergency. If they declared it early, would they have to land overweight or will they be allowed to dump the fuel?

 

I suppose this being a B747 with 4 engines and when 1 failed the pilots still have 3 engines and the aircraft will still fly perfectly fine thus no need to wake everyone up by declaring an emergency. The call to dump fuel lies with the crew as the crew is responsible to ensure a safe landing.

[S M Tang 0]

I wonder why did the pilots delayed declaring an emergency. If they declared it early, would they have to land overweight or will they be allowed to dump the fuel?

 

Landing overweight is a very serious issue as the plane will be grounded for checks because the landing gear could've been damaged by the weight. So landing overweight is something they'll try to avoid unless its really necessary.

[Alif A. F. 0]

Landing overweight is a very serious issue as the plane will be grounded for checks because the landing gear could've been damaged by the weight. So landing overweight is something they'll try to avoid unless its really necessary.

 

I saw the video posted by one of the passengers sitting on the window seat. Quite scary really in passengers point of view...you can see the intense sparks coming out from the outer board engine clearly...and some of the passengers seen in the video seem confused and panicked.

[flee 5]

Australian authorities probe Qantas engine failure in San Francisco

Australian authorities have arrived in San Francisco to investigate an incident involving a Qantas Airways Boeing 747-400 that experienced an uncontained engine failure during flight.

 

Two investigators from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) will remain in San Francisco over the next few days to examine the engine and components and work with Qantas to determine the cause of the failure, says the ATSB.

 

In the 30 August incident, engine number four of the Rolls-Royce RB211 powered 747 failed shortly after take-off from San Francisco airport for Sydney.

 

The failure was mechanical in nature and uncontained, and ejected material punctured a hole in the outboard engine and damaged the aircraft's leading edge flaps, says the ATSB.

 

The aircraft, registration VH-OJP, returned to San Francisco after the flight crew dumped fuel. No one was injured in the incident.

 

Australian authorities have classified the incident as serious.

 

Following investigations in San Francisco, the damaged engine will be sent to maintenance facilities in Hong Kong where it will be further examined by technical investigators from the ATSB, says the bureau.

 

Source: http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/09/03/346957/australian-authorities-probe-qantas-engine-failure-in-san.html