United 108 IAD-MUC Engine failure at 1,000 feet on takeoff

[repairman54]

I was going to ask about this… I recall when growing up, once driving on the NJTP near EWR, in a light rain. All of a sudden the wipers got real streaky. Weren’t working right. My friend’s father, who was driving, claimed it was because the aircraft was dumping fuel.

Dousing cars on the turnpike in the rain seemed dubious, but the windshield was horribly streaky. So maybe it was true!?!

Too close to EWR for dumping. I lived off Exit 12 for a lot of years. Back then trucks leaked fuel like crazy since it was so cheap and mileage wasn't an issue like today. Turnpike would be always be slippery when it started to rain.

 

[I<3oil]

I am certain that Boeing and GE already know. I do know it wasn’t a huge deal (the engine stayed on the wing) because the airplane flew again the next day, and is still flying today.

I see

 

[I<3oil]

Malfunctioning FMU (fuel metering unit) in what I'm seeing on an A&P forum I frequent.

So basically, fuel was cutoff? Not actually anything mechanical with the engine then

 

[IndyFan]

I am certain that Boeing and GE already know. I do know it wasn’t a huge deal (the engine stayed on the wing) because the airplane flew again the next day, and is still flying today.

So basically, fuel was cutoff? Not actually anything mechanical with the engine then

It could be a variety of things. I'm no expert, but these engines are complicated. Reliable, but very complicated. Might have been a part that rarely fails but was easy and quick to diagnose, access, and replace? Who knows?

 

[y_p_w]

It could be a variety of things. I'm no expert, but these engines are complicated. Reliable, but very complicated. Might have been a part that rarely fails but was easy and quick to diagnose, access, and replace? Who knows?

Isn't this sort of thing supposed to be caught during routine maintenance/inspections? Of course that doesn't preclude the possibility of random failure that wasn't a result of normal wear that would indicate the possibility of failure before the next inspection.

 

[ammolab]

Isn't this sort of thing supposed to be caught during routine maintenance/inspections? Of course that doesn't preclude the possibility of random failure that wasn't a result of normal wear that would indicate the possibility of failure before the next inspection.

Inspections look for things that are defective….you can’t see some things that are working now, but will fail in the future.

 

[Astro14]

Isn't this sort of thing supposed to be caught during routine maintenance/inspections? Of course that doesn't preclude the possibility of random failure that wasn't a result of normal wear that would indicate the possibility of failure before the next inspection.

The engines, the entire airplane, gets inspected and checked before going ETOPS/International. Every flight. Every time. This airplane was no exception.

I once had a 767-300 going to London one night, we were 5 minutes from pushback when the cabin temperature got warm, and I mean really warm. We had started boarding 45 minutes prior, and everything was working fine. Long story short - we couldn't fix it, and had to get another airplane. I stood by the door as folks deplaned.

One upset passenger, a tall, British person from 1st class, said, in an imperious, condescending voice, "this should have been discovered 3 hours ago!" I looked at him and said, "The airplane was thoroughly checked hours ago, but this fault didn't appear until 5 minutes prior to departure."

"Unacceptable!" he roared.

The next guy said, with a smirk, "You mean that you can't predict the future?"

Exactly.

 

[Astro14]

So basically, fuel was cutoff? Not actually anything mechanical with the engine then

Not exactly - the fuel was being improperly metered into the engine. The engine temperature was too high, the thrust was too low, the whole thing wasn't running right, so, it had to be shut down. jet engines aren't exactly like cars - there isn't a good analog.

 

[y_p_w]

The engines, the entire airplane, gets inspected and checked before going ETOPS/International. Every flight. Every time. This airplane was no exception.

There are some things that are hard to detect without disassembly or at least ultrasonic inspection. But yeah I think we all appreciate the safety checks that go into modern aviation.

 

[IndyFan]

The engines, the entire airplane, gets inspected and checked before going ETOPS/International. Every flight. Every time. This airplane was no exception.

I once had a 767-300 going to London one night, we were 5 minutes from pushback when the cabin temperature got warm, and I mean really warm. We had started boarding 45 minutes prior, and everything was working fine. Long story short - we couldn't fix it, and had to get another airplane. I stood by the door as folks deplaned.

One upset passenger, a tall, British person from 1st class, said, in an imperious, condescending voice, "this should have been discovered 3 hours ago!" I looked at him and said, "The airplane was thoroughly checked hours ago, but this fault didn't appear until 5 minutes prior to departure."

"Unacceptable!" he roared.

The next guy said, with a smirk, "You mean that you can't predict the future?"

Exactly.

Too bad you can't tell that bloke to go stuff himself.