Newsstand - UA 757 issue? - U.S. safety board seeks urgent jet engine checks

U.S. safety board seeks urgent jet engine checks (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081016/ts_nm/us_usa_safety_pratt_1)

some snippets

U.S. safety investigators on Thursday urgently recommended stepped-up inspections of certain Pratt & Whitney engines on dozens of passenger jets to detect possible flaws linked to the most catastrophic type of failure.
....
The action affects more than 700 engines on some 300 Boeing Co 757 aircraft worldwide, including at least several dozen operated by U.S. airlines.

These include Delta Air Lines Inc, United Airlines, a unit of UAL Corp, Northwest Airlines Co, and American Airlines, a unit of AMR Corp.

The safety board's action was prompted by uncontained failure of the right engine of Delta Flight 624 during takeoff on August 6 in Las Vegas.

This could create significant scheduling issues

Some other snippets:

The National Transportation Safety Board asked the Federal Aviation Administration to require that PW2037 engines undergo recurring inspections for the time being once they reach a certain point in their operation.

...

In the Delta case, investigators found holes in the engine cover as well as damage to the engine turbine. The investigation also revealed missing parts and cracked turbine blades.

Additionally, the safety board said it has since learned of cracked parts in other PW2037 engines.

The first paragraph is not really clear what the implications for scheduling will be, however, the word "urgent" in the title implies that something will be done soon. Its not clear what exactly will be required, however, if its simply to check all the turbine stages for cracked blades it shouldn't be a huge schedule hit.

Google search shows multiple news hits
AP report (http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ioLAmZGZvUweXQQlvyBuui-6YPQQD93RTD7G2)
includes
"Information gathered to date has raised serious concerns that warrant immediate action by the FAA," the safety board wrote Robert Sturgell, the FAA's acting administrator.

But immediate FAA action may or may not equate to immediate operator action

But immediate FAA action may or may not equate to immediate operator action
It all depends what form the FAA action takes. They have the power to ground the fleet until inspections are performed if they deem it a serious enough threat.

[I]The action affects more than 700 engines on some 300 Boeing Co 757 aircraft worldwide, including at least several dozen operated by U.S. airlines.


757s have how many engines?

There's something odd about this statement. I could see how the 700 engines could be distribute across more than 350 planes (if some engines of that type were known to be OK), but this doesn't make sense. Any chance it's 700 engines used on 757-300s, in which case it wouldn't affect UA at all?

757s have how many engines?

There's something odd about this statement. I could see how the 700 engines could be distribute across more than 350 planes (if some engines of that type were known to be OK), but this doesn't make sense. Any chance it's 700 engines used on 757-300s, in which case it wouldn't affect UA at all?

Spares?

Can anyone smell some DEQM action?

757s have how many engines?

Maybe its just really crappy rounding.. they saw 350 and though it would be easier to type over 300. It's unknown how accurate this writer is.

Another question though.. I thought AA used Rolls Royce engines on the 757 fleet? I always notice the longer bypass cowling on the AA757's and I think I looked it up one day. That and I think I remember this coming up in a thread on the CO board when ATA went under and they were debating CO aquiring them.

Spares?

Spares are not "on" the aircraft (unless it's like this (http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0606488/M/), though I don't think the 757 does this).

Spares are not "on" the aircraft (unless it's like this (http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0606488/M/), though I don't think the 757 does this).

I'd assume the FAA would want to inspect all engines, whether they're currently attached to a plane or not.

Doesn't effect CO, AA and US as they use R-R engines. UA, DL & NW are affected for sure.

That's reassuring :rolleyes: given that 3 out of the next 3 transcons I have are on UA 757's....:(

757 has been out there for 25 years. probably the pw engines also. now we got a failure. would hope they do not pull all off line for teardown inspections unless counterfit parts have been found, or some such other reason to worry about a 1 in millions failure.

Wonder who has done the overhauls on these engines. I know UA and PWA as well as Delta have heavy maintenance shops but with the farming out of maintenance, it may be limited to certain repair stations (or not). Missing parts sounds like poor QC.

Cheers