Posted on 03/07/2024 7:22:08 AM PST by V_TWIN
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- A United flight from Houston to Fort Myers had to turn around Monday when one of the plane's engines caught fire.
Several of the 167 passengers on board Flight 1118 took a video showing a line of flames shooting out of the engine.
"I remember there was just this bright, flashing light that came through the window, and it sounded like a bomb went off, and then it was just a strobe of fire out the window," David Gruninger, who was on the connecting flight home to Florida with 15 of his friends after attending a wedding in Mexico, said.
FlightAware data shows the Boeing 737 taking off from George Bush Intercontinental Airport at 6:40 p.m. It barely left the Houston area when it turned around at 6:52 p.m.
"The plane was nosediving, and the pilot was bringing the plane back up," passenger Elliot Trexler said. "The plane was also rocking back and forth a lot."
"And then it just turned into chaos. People were screaming and crying and trying to figure out what was going on," Gruninger said.
Radio transmissions from the plane shed some light on the issues it was having.
"It was our left engine, our number one engine, that was surging when we were climbing through about 10,000 (feet), and flight attendants saw momentary flames back there," a pilot can be heard saying.
(Excerpt) Read more at abc13.com ...
It has nothing to do with the airplane's structural integrity. It was the engine.
However let the hysteria continue.
That’s more than a “compressor stall.” Is this photo from this actual flight?
Ten minutes from Ft Meyers and they’re over the midwest?
Wow!
No. look at the ground Midwest/west during a drought.
Article states they were climbing through 10,000’ when the incident occurred.
What bird flies THAT high?
No. Left engine was this incident.
As long as they don’t run out of coffee
First of all, the Boeing 737 is the most widely used aircraft model. It’s like comparing car accidents with motorcycle accidents with truck accidents. Of course there will be more car accidents.
Secondly, dealing with a compressor stall is an Abnormal Procedure, not an Emergency Procedure. Even an engine failure is only an Abnormal Procedure. The plane will fly quite well until it runs out of fuel.
Thirdly, I doubt the plane nose dived. If anything, the pitch was lowered slightly to stop the climb.
[Aviation titbit - the normal two engine level attitude is about 2.5 degrees nose up. The normal one engine level attitude is 7 degrees and a climb attitude is 12 degrees.]
Of course some people in the back knew they were going to die. SMH They should have been more worried about missing their connection.
EC
It’s kinda like mad cows...
I asked a rancher what are they mad about?
What’s their beef?
Thirdly, I doubt the plane nose dived. If anything, the pitch was lowered slightly to stop the climb.
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That is what it looks like on flightaware. Looks to me like the plane’s altitude was stable the entire time.
https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/UAL1118/history/20240305/0036Z/KIAH/KIAH
“Of course some people in the back knew they were going to die. SMH They should have been more worried about missing their connection”
Funny how it never seems to be AS critical to those that are not actually ON the aircraft in question. 😁
The oil pressure. I forgot to check the oil pressure! When Kramer hears about this, the ****’* going to hit the fan!
While extremely exceptionally rare, compressor stalls are usually benign once power is reduced (even slightly) at the affected engine.
Yeah! Sitting in the back of an airliner definitely makes one an aviation expert!
IMHO, DEI strikes again!
All commercial 2 engined aircraft are capable of flying on one engine, and even climbing. This happens more than is reported and as long as there is a reasonably decent pilot on board it’s no big deal. It’s a scenario they practice a lot in the simulator.
CC
What bird flies THAT high?
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Mallard ducks can fly around 21K feet. Cranes can fly at 33K feet.
https://a-z-animals.com/blog/the-top-10-highest-flying-birds-in-the-world/
Been on many hundreds of flights with not one a compressor stall.
Please don’t get on a flight with me :)
Facts matter. Thanks
bkmk
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