oops - open engine latch on transcon flight
Jan 29, 2012 | 8:49 am
#1
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oops - open engine latch on transcon flight
I thought folks would enjoy this photo - CO 1703 on Monday, Jan 23 - we flew from EWR to SFO with a port-side engine latch open.
Jan 29, 2012 | 8:55 am
#2
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I assume this is why God invented redundancy. Multiple latches, yes?
Jan 29, 2012 | 8:58 am
#3
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Ha - as a traveler, I really wanted to get to SFO and not make a landing in the middle of the country to close it. As an engineer, I observed multiple latches, no vibrations, and figured if this was all it took to bring down a 737-700, we'd have known about it by now.
I figured I'd ding my call button if things degenerated
And we landed without incident.
I figured I'd ding my call button if things degenerated
And we landed without incident.
Jan 29, 2012 | 3:59 pm
#4
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Ha - as a traveler, I really wanted to get to SFO and not make a landing in the middle of the country to close it. As an engineer, I observed multiple latches, no vibrations, and figured if this was all it took to bring down a 737-700, we'd have known about it by now.
I figured I'd ding my call button if things degenerated And we landed without incident.
I figured I'd ding my call button if things degenerated
And we landed without incident.
Jan 29, 2012 | 4:08 pm
#5
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Because I'd rather make a normal landing in the middle of the country than an abnormal one.
Nice pickup to notice it.
Jan 29, 2012 | 4:11 pm
#6
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As a traveler, if I noticed something out of the ordinary like that, I would have told the FA to tell the pilot. And then let the pilot decide how important it is, because I'm not an aeronautical engineer.
Because I'd rather make a normal landing in the middle of the country than an abnormal one.
Nice pickup to notice it.
Because I'd rather make a normal landing in the middle of the country than an abnormal one.
Nice pickup to notice it.
Jan 29, 2012 | 4:16 pm
#7
formerly known as felinaar
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Eek! Glad it worked out. I usually freak out a bit when I look out at the wing and think, "That's all that's keeping us from plummeting to our deaths!" Even if the engine dies, we could still glide for a while with the wings.
Jan 29, 2012 | 4:51 pm
#8
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I think I might have reported it as well. There supposedly a woman on AQ 243 who noticed a small crack in the fuselage on boarding but didn't report it. 
At 500 knots there's liable to be little warning between "trouble" and "catastrophic failure".
At 500 knots there's liable to be little warning between "trouble" and "catastrophic failure".
Jan 29, 2012 | 6:57 pm
#9
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Some engineer decided to paint that bright red for a reason. At 500 knots a little airflow under that piece... not sure I'd want to see how that ends.
Jan 29, 2012 | 7:02 pm
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Jan 29, 2012 | 7:15 pm
#11
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Assuming it was like that prior to departure and didn't pop up while in flight, that doesn't speak very well toward the pilot that did the pre-flight walk-around.
Jan 29, 2012 | 7:29 pm
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Jan 29, 2012 | 7:49 pm
#15
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It was totally normal, but if you didn't know it was coming, it felt like the plane was about to fall apart...