787: Will it fly? [Engine failure during static testing]
Aug 24, 2010 | 11:17 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: NYC & Delhi
Programs: CO Pres. Plat, SPG
Posts: 546
787: Will it fly? [Engine failure during static testing]
Rolls-Royce Test-Bed Blowout Shuts Site Used for Boeing, Airbus
On 2 Aug the Trent 1000 engine exploded during testing. The facility has not yet reopened. ANA's delivery of the 787 is being delayed "because of flaws with structures that keep the plane steady".
I certainly hope that exploding engines and structural flaws aren't normal. But, I wonder, when will these things actually be delivered, if at all?
On 2 Aug the Trent 1000 engine exploded during testing. The facility has not yet reopened. ANA's delivery of the 787 is being delayed "because of flaws with structures that keep the plane steady".
I certainly hope that exploding engines and structural flaws aren't normal. But, I wonder, when will these things actually be delivered, if at all?
Aug 24, 2010 | 11:35 am
#2
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Delayed at EWR
Programs: UA 1K, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, Priority Pass
Posts: 353
I would venture to say that anything on a aircraft exploding is a bit abnormal... except of course for certain flyers who didn't get the meal they wanted in F.
Aug 24, 2010 | 11:40 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: PVD
Programs: Priority Club Plat
Posts: 12,312
What does this have to do with the structure of the 787? Or the A350 for that matter?
And in case some aren't clear, CO's 787 use GEnx engines, not RR.
And in case some aren't clear, CO's 787 use GEnx engines, not RR.
Aug 24, 2010 | 11:42 am
#4
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Between EWR & PHL
Programs: UA MileagePlus dirt (former hard-way Silver); AS Mileage Plan MVP; Hilton Honors Silver
Posts: 1,586
If memory serves, Boeing's already had the 787 up in the air for hours at a time. I'm not sure how this affects much of anything...
Aug 24, 2010 | 12:06 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: PVD
Programs: Priority Club Plat
Posts: 12,312
BTW, longest flight for a 787 yesterday. 14 hours roundtrip from the Seattle area up to the North Pole and back.
---
Edit: Sorry for the incorrect info. ZA005 has GEnx. So, 4 planes flying with Trent 1000, 1 with GEnx.
Last edited by rkkwan; Aug 24, 2010 at 3:57 pm
Aug 24, 2010 | 12:14 pm
#6
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP MM, HHonors Lifetime Diamond, Marriott Lifetime Ti, UA Silver
Posts: 5,210
The failure of the Trent 1000 engine, which powers the Dreamliner, resulted in “limited debris being released into the test facility,”
[Snip]
The malfunction occurred on Aug. 2 and was a so-called uncontained failure
[Snip]
Uncontained failures are “extremely rare” while engines are in use on a commercial airliner, said Paul Hayes, safety director at U.K. aviation consultants Ascend Worldwide, with “one or two per year, if that.”
While Ascend doesn’t track failures on test beds, they’re likely to be more common than on the wing as engines are in an environment where they’re meant to be stressed, Hayes said. The nacelle casings which house the turbines are also often removed and these would help contain debris under normal circumstances.
[Snip]
The malfunction occurred on Aug. 2 and was a so-called uncontained failure
[Snip]
Uncontained failures are “extremely rare” while engines are in use on a commercial airliner, said Paul Hayes, safety director at U.K. aviation consultants Ascend Worldwide, with “one or two per year, if that.”
While Ascend doesn’t track failures on test beds, they’re likely to be more common than on the wing as engines are in an environment where they’re meant to be stressed, Hayes said. The nacelle casings which house the turbines are also often removed and these would help contain debris under normal circumstances.
We don't know the complete nature of the failure, but it sounds like a turbine blade from the core of the engine (not the front fan that everyone sees) broke off and damaged the engine core. This is not as uncommon as folks think and its rarely catastrophic, even on an airliner flying full of pax.
To characterize this as "Exploding engines" is a bit strong IMO.
Aug 24, 2010 | 12:20 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: CLT
Programs: UA 1K, SPG Platinum, Penalty Box 2K, PWP Posting Unit 9
Posts: 13,515
We don't know the complete nature of the failure, but it sounds like a turbine blade from the core of the engine (not the front fan that everyone sees) broke off and damaged the engine core. This is not as uncommon as folks think and its rarely catastrophic, even on an airliner flying full of pax.
To characterize this as "Exploding engines" is a bit strong IMO.
To characterize this as "Exploding engines" is a bit strong IMO.
Aug 24, 2010 | 12:31 pm
#8
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SRQ-NYC-DCA
Programs: OnePass Infinite CO MM, PC Charter Lifer SkyMiles GM, MileagePlus
Posts: 1,826
Aug 24, 2010 | 1:27 pm
#9
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: DCA
Programs: UA LT 1K, AA EXP, Marriott LT Titan, Avis PC, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,925
Isn't CO using GE engines on its 787?
Aug 24, 2010 | 1:52 pm
#10
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Clinging to the edifices of a decadent past from the biggest city in America nobody really cares about.
Programs: (ಠ_ಠ)
Posts: 9,077
Aug 24, 2010 | 2:12 pm
#11
Join Date: Jun 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 315
Well, it can definitely affect the flight testing if R-R finds significant issues with their Trent 1000 and Boeing having to ground the fleet or changing the testing proceduces. All 5 787s that are flying have that engine. None flying with GEnx yet.
BTW, longest flight for a 787 yesterday. 14 hours roundtrip from the Seattle area up to the North Pole and back.
BTW, longest flight for a 787 yesterday. 14 hours roundtrip from the Seattle area up to the North Pole and back.
Aug 24, 2010 | 2:15 pm
#12
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: ORD / DUB / LHR
Programs: UA 1K MM; BA Silver; Marriott Plat
Posts: 8,240
Aug 24, 2010 | 2:57 pm
#14
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SRQ-NYC-DCA
Programs: OnePass Infinite CO MM, PC Charter Lifer SkyMiles GM, MileagePlus
Posts: 1,826
Aug 24, 2010 | 3:56 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: PVD
Programs: Priority Club Plat
Posts: 12,312