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Boeing engine failure: Engine on United Airlines flight was showing signs of metal fatigue, NTSB says
The Pratt & Whitney engine that failed minutes into United Airlines flight 328 showed signs of metal fatigue, investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board said during their first public briefing on Monday. The new finding is perhaps the most significant in the investigation into Saturday's in-flight incident-- one that led United Airlines to ground all of its Boeing 777s powered by PW4000 series engines and prompted federal regulators to re-examine how often the engines… (www.msn.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
Mr. Sparkie624, you must realize that when people book a flight, the airlines typically show the aircraft type such as a B777. Nowhere I've seen does United show on a passenger booking the engine manufacturer. Therefore, when I see you calling the public "stupid" I sense you are blind to what the normal people see when they book a flight. Or, you have an agenda not obvious here. People aren't all propeller heads. You don't book a UAL-PW flight number.
I’m sure Sparkie can defend for himself but my read from his comments are: the News Media are doing the public a dis-service with their insatiable need to grab headlines by insinuating false innuendo! The more appropriate by-line would have been PW-4000 series engine failure prompts Boeing 777-200 to return to departure airport.
Laboratory and design analyst determine the time between inspections of engine components. Maybe that time will be looked at in greater detail on all turbofan engines. P&W isn’t the only manufacturer of turbofan blades.
I don't understand why the media and the CAA are trying to bring down Boeing? if they keep this up we will be left with only one major aircraft manufacturer in the western world and we know what a monopoly does to any market! Being have made some bad mistakes but they also make some great aircraft.
Interesting... It has happened before, but very infrequently.
United Airlines Flight 1175
On February 13, 2018, a Boeing 777-200 with PW4077-112 engines performing United Airlines Flight 1175 from San Francisco to Honolulu, about 45 minutes before landing, suffered a fan blade failure, which caused much of the inlet and cowl to separate from the engine. There was minor damage to the fuselage caused by the ejected debris. The NTSB's final report noted that the primary cause was lapses and failures in P&W's fan blade inspection, resulting in a cracked blade erroneously returning to service. An inspector had seen possible sign of the crack in the blade years before but attributed it to paint.
Other noted failures:
Korean Air Flight 2708
On May 27, 2016, a Boeing 777-300 of Korean Air, operating as Korean Air Flight 2708 from Haneda Airport in Tokyo to Seoul's Gimpo International Airport, was accelerating for take off when its left engine, PW4098-112 engine suffered an uncontained failure and a substantial fire ensued. The crew aborted the take-off, and after the aircraft came to a stop the fire was extinguished by the airport emergency services. No fatalities were recorded.
Japan Airlines Flight JL-904
On December 4, 2020, a Japan Airlines Boeing 777-200, registration JA8978 performing flight JL-904 from Okinawa to Tokyo Haneda with 178 passengers and 11 crew, was climbing out of Okinawa when the left hand engine (PW4074) failed and its access doors ripped off with huge noises prompting the crew to stop the climb and return to Okinawa for a safe landing about 35 minutes after departure. The aircraft stopped on the runway and was subsequently towed to the apron.
United Airlines Flight 1175
On February 13, 2018, a Boeing 777-200 with PW4077-112 engines performing United Airlines Flight 1175 from San Francisco to Honolulu, about 45 minutes before landing, suffered a fan blade failure, which caused much of the inlet and cowl to separate from the engine. There was minor damage to the fuselage caused by the ejected debris. The NTSB's final report noted that the primary cause was lapses and failures in P&W's fan blade inspection, resulting in a cracked blade erroneously returning to service. An inspector had seen possible sign of the crack in the blade years before but attributed it to paint.
Other noted failures:
Korean Air Flight 2708
On May 27, 2016, a Boeing 777-300 of Korean Air, operating as Korean Air Flight 2708 from Haneda Airport in Tokyo to Seoul's Gimpo International Airport, was accelerating for take off when its left engine, PW4098-112 engine suffered an uncontained failure and a substantial fire ensued. The crew aborted the take-off, and after the aircraft came to a stop the fire was extinguished by the airport emergency services. No fatalities were recorded.
Japan Airlines Flight JL-904
On December 4, 2020, a Japan Airlines Boeing 777-200, registration JA8978 performing flight JL-904 from Okinawa to Tokyo Haneda with 178 passengers and 11 crew, was climbing out of Okinawa when the left hand engine (PW4074) failed and its access doors ripped off with huge noises prompting the crew to stop the climb and return to Okinawa for a safe landing about 35 minutes after departure. The aircraft stopped on the runway and was subsequently towed to the apron.
The FAA has published an Emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-05-51 which is being sent to owners and operators of Pratt
& Whitney Division (PW) PW4074, PW4074D, PW4077, PW4077D, PW4084D, PW4090, and PW4090-3 model turbofan engines.
Background. This emergency AD was prompted by the in-flight failure of a 1st-stage low-pressure compressor (LPC) blade on a PW4077 model turbofan engine resulting in an engine fire during flight. This condition, if not addressed, could result in 1st-stage LPC blade release, damage to the engine, and damage to the airplane.
Relevant Service Information. The FAA reviewed Pratt & Whitney Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) PW4G-112-A72-268, Revision No. 7, dated September 6, 2018. This ASB specifies procedures for performing thermal acoustic image (TAI) inspections of 1st-stage LPC blades.
FAA’s Determination. The FAA is issuing this AD because the agency has determined the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.
The AD can be found here:
https://www.faa.gov/news/media/attachments/Emergency%20AD%20Document%20AD-2021-00188-E.pdf
Best
Capt J Buck
& Whitney Division (PW) PW4074, PW4074D, PW4077, PW4077D, PW4084D, PW4090, and PW4090-3 model turbofan engines.
Background. This emergency AD was prompted by the in-flight failure of a 1st-stage low-pressure compressor (LPC) blade on a PW4077 model turbofan engine resulting in an engine fire during flight. This condition, if not addressed, could result in 1st-stage LPC blade release, damage to the engine, and damage to the airplane.
Relevant Service Information. The FAA reviewed Pratt & Whitney Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) PW4G-112-A72-268, Revision No. 7, dated September 6, 2018. This ASB specifies procedures for performing thermal acoustic image (TAI) inspections of 1st-stage LPC blades.
FAA’s Determination. The FAA is issuing this AD because the agency has determined the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.
The AD can be found here:
https://www.faa.gov/news/media/attachments/Emergency%20AD%20Document%20AD-2021-00188-E.pdf
Best
Capt J Buck