Starlionblue From Greenland, joined Feb 2004, 15102 posts, RR: 69 Reply 1, posted (7 years 10 months 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 9211 times:
Not often but it does happen. There was a long topic a few months back in Tech Ops.
As I remember the discussion, the A32x engine cowlings (don't know if it applies to all versions) have a latch design whereby you cannot visually check if they are locked. You have to actually press or something. So it's easy to assume they are locked even though the checklist says feel them up.
Tact Is For People Who Aren't Witty Enough To Be Sarcastic
SafetyDude From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 3795 posts, RR: 20 Reply 2, posted (7 years 10 months 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 9202 times:
I do not think that it happens often - or at least it I hope not.
Starlionblue From Greenland, joined Feb 2004, 15102 posts, RR: 69 Reply 3, posted (7 years 10 months 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 9189 times:
Forgot to mention it's not really dangerous normally. Just annoying. There was an article about a Cargo DC-8 in Micronesia or somewhere that lost a cowling. The only thing the crew noticed was that the engine was running slightly cooler than usual.
[Edited 2004-07-23 23:32:06]
Tact Is For People Who Aren't Witty Enough To Be Sarcastic
PHX Flyer From United States of America, joined Apr 2001, 414 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (7 years 10 months 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 9147 times:
<< Forgot to mention it's not really dangerous normally.>>
Yeah, you had better forgotten about it, because it's BS!
The cowling can hit the vertical stabilizer and destroy the rudder in the process. This is dangerous, especially during take-off.
AI has been offering an upgrade kit for the cowlings for several years now, which - if installed - prevents the cowling from fully closing unless they are properly latched. This makes it easier to spot an open one just by visual inspection.
Elwood64151 From United States of America, joined Feb 2002, 2477 posts, RR: 8 Reply 11, posted (7 years 10 months 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 8899 times:
We're forgetting about the possibility of engine cowlings falling on unsuspecting people, houses, vehicles, etc...
This is a potentially dangerous situation!
Those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it in summer school.
Cpt Underpants From Canada, joined May 2001, 166 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (7 years 10 months 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 8876 times:
Actually, it's the A320 / IAE V2500 combination that's had the majority of these incidents. The modification does help a great deal, but many older machines have not been modified. And to say it's not normally a problem is ridiculous. In the past, cowl loss incidents have resulted in tail damage, leading edge slat damage, fuel tank rupture, a hole in a fuselage and even an engine that refused to go out of idle because the aircraft thought a reverser had deployed!
SafetyDude From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 3795 posts, RR: 20 Reply 14, posted (7 years 10 months 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 8655 times:
This is dangerous, especially during take-off.
If a plane is taking off (heading up), and the cowling falls off, it is going to fall down or at a little bit of an angle, and should miss hitting any part of the plane.
The topic needs to be changed to ENGINE COWLING FALLS OFF OF AIRTRAN FLIGHT OPERATED BY RYAN INTERNATIONAL.
It was an AirTran flight, and AirTran takes legal (I believe) responsibilities of the aircraft.
While I must say I am impressed (seriously, no joke) with your accuracy, I suggest you head on over to Site Related to this post (http://www.airliners.net/discussions/site_related/read.main/23676/) and see if you can show support for a grammatically accurate a.net.
JBirdAV8r From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 4399 posts, RR: 23 Reply 15, posted (7 years 10 months 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 8643 times:
even though the checklist says feel them up.
There's a CHECKLIST for that kind of stuff??
If a plane is taking off (heading up), and the cowling falls off, it is going to fall down or at a little bit of an angle, and should miss hitting any part of the plane.
Incorrect. It has more to do with angle of attack, "aerodynamics" of the part, weight, airspeed, etc. It could definitely hit parts of the airplane.
Srbmod From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 16221 posts, RR: 57 Reply 16, posted (7 years 10 months 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 8581 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW HEAD MODERATOR
The topic needs to be changed to ENGINE COWLING FALLS OFF OF AIRTRAN FLIGHT OPERATED BY RYAN INTERNATIONAL.
It was an AirTran flight, and AirTran takes legal (I believe) responsibilities of the aircraft.
No, that would be Ryan International, the operator of the a/c; the flight is operated on the behalf of AirTran, is booked through AirTran, but the flight is in reality a Ryan Int'l flight, not an AirTran flight. The AirTran/Ryan Int'l contract is an ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, Insurance) leasing arrangement, so anything that happens to that a/c while operating for AirTran falls back on Ryan Int'l not AirTran.
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JeffDCA From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 17, posted (7 years 10 months 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 8519 times:
If a plane is taking off (heading up), and the cowling falls off, it is going to fall down or at a little bit of an angle, and should miss hitting any part of the plane.
Incorrect. Just take a look at the following photo, notice the engine cowling has seperated and caused damage to the fin.
Jetmek319 From Germany, joined Sep 2003, 199 posts, RR: 2 Reply 18, posted (7 years 10 months 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 8486 times:
As I remember the discussion, the A32x engine cowlings (don't know if it applies to all versions) have a latch design whereby you cannot visually check if they are locked. You have to actually press or something. So it's easy to assume they are locked even though the checklist says feel them up.
***Actually the cowl latches are painted a contrasting color, usually day-glo orange (except on easyJet), and are easily verified via visual inspection. There is a way, however, to latch them 'together' prior the cowling being closed. Though as mentioned before, the cowling doesn't close correctly.***
UA777222 From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 3348 posts, RR: 16 Reply 20, posted (7 years 10 months 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 6547 times:
Has anyone seen that IB A320? If it's out of service for that long then why hasn't this issue been fixed or at least resolved? When an incodent like this happens does the airline pay the bill b/c they forgot to latch the thingie or does Airbus pay b/c they were the idiots that put it there to begin with? I guess that's what you sign up for when you buy the a/c!
Midway2airtran From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 864 posts, RR: 2 Reply 21, posted (7 years 10 months 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 6205 times:
Whenever outside from now on, I will now watch out for engine cowlings falling from the sky
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