Andz From South Africa, joined Feb 2004, 8298 posts, RR: 11 Posted (6 years 10 months 2 weeks 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 2013 times:
I recently flew SAA JNB-LHR on a 744. We taxied out and stopped, then the Captain came on and said there was a technical fault with No 2 thrust reverser sensors and we might need to return to the gate. Laudair sprang to mind and I commented to the F/A sitting opposite me that I was happy to return to the gate for a reverser problem!
Anyway back the gate we went, the Captain was on the P/A explaining that they couldn't determine the position of the reverser which could compromise our take off performance and the aircraft in the air. He explained everything in layman's terms which I thought was pretty good, saying the quickest fix was to lock it out which would take about half an hour.... 20 minutes later we were on our way on a smooth and uneventful flight.
Anyone got any similar stories? Is this a common occurrence? The aircraft was ZS-SAK which has Rolls-Royce RB-211s.
Kaddyuk From Wallis and Futuna, joined Nov 2001, 4125 posts, RR: 28 Reply 1, posted (6 years 10 months 2 weeks 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 1979 times:
Thrust reversers when we have problems with them and we're in a rush are normally locked out. Its not a fix as such, but the aircraft can be dispatched with one thrust reverser Inoperative.
There are many different interlocks that prevent the T/R from being deployed in flight, many of them introduced because of the Lauda Air crash.
Its a fairly simple procedure to lock a T/R out and can be done inside 20 Minutes (I've never really timed myself though).
Whoever said "laughter is the best medicine" never had Gonorrhea
N8076U From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 425 posts, RR: 10 Reply 2, posted (6 years 10 months 2 weeks 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 1944 times:
Quoting Kaddyuk (Reply 1): Thrust reversers when we have problems with them and we're in a rush are normally locked out.
I agree, this seems to always happen when you don't have time to actually fix it, and the aircraft is already loaded.
The P&W powered 747-400s we had at UA weren't particularly troublesome at least compared to the 747 classics we had.
After the Lauda Air crash, the newer 747-400s UA had came with "sync locks" which physically prevented the reverser actuators from turning, should one somehow activate in flight. The 767-300's had these as well. Older 747-400s were retrofitted with this feature at overhaul. Sync lock operation was checked at every "B" check (1000 hrs. between B checks if I remember right). The gaps on the reverser actuator proximity switches were also checked at "B" checks.
Liedetectors From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 357 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (6 years 10 months 1 week 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 1826 times:
Quoting Kaddyuk (Reply 1): the aircraft can be dispatched with one thrust reverser Inoperative.
Theoretically, you can lock out all the T/Rs and dispatch b/c the T/R is not an essential item.
N8076U From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 425 posts, RR: 10 Reply 4, posted (6 years 10 months 1 week 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 1820 times:
Quoting Liedetectors (Reply 3): Theoretically, you can lock out all the T/Rs and dispatch b/c the T/R is not an essential item.
Theoretically, yes. But the reality is that according to the MEL on the 747-400 only one reverser can be inoperative. If you have two inoperative, you're not going anywhere.
Kaddyuk From Wallis and Futuna, joined Nov 2001, 4125 posts, RR: 28 Reply 5, posted (6 years 10 months 1 week 4 days 12 hours ago) and read 1800 times:
Quoting Liedetectors (Reply 3): Theoretically, you can lock out all the T/Rs and dispatch b/c the T/R is not an essential item.
Negative, you can lock out both t/r on one engine... however you can't lock out more than one t/r not on the same engine...
Whoever said "laughter is the best medicine" never had Gonorrhea
N8076U From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 425 posts, RR: 10 Reply 6, posted (6 years 10 months 1 week 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 1775 times:
Quoting Kaddyuk (Reply 5): Negative, you can lock out both t/r on one engine... however you can't lock out more than one t/r not on the same engine...
Yes, both reverser halves on one engine must always be locked out together.
Now, it "may" be possible to get a one-time ferry permit and fly a 747 with two reversers inop, so theoretically it is "possible" but never, ever on a revenue flight.
Kaddyuk From Wallis and Futuna, joined Nov 2001, 4125 posts, RR: 28 Reply 7, posted (6 years 10 months 1 week 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 1726 times:
Quoting N8076U (Reply 6): Now, it "may" be possible to get a one-time ferry permit and fly a 747 with two reversers inop, so theoretically it is "possible" but never, ever on a revenue flight.
You'd need a Permit to Fly from the CAA and a NTO (No Technical Objection) from the Manufacturer I guess as you'd be operating outside the MMEL.
Whoever said "laughter is the best medicine" never had Gonorrhea
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From South Africa, joined Feb 2004, 8298 posts, 
From Wallis and Futuna, joined Nov 2001, 4125 posts, 
From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 425 posts, 
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