747 with single-engine failure safely returns to Dulles

Fox news Alert ^ | 25 May 07 | dcbryan1

[DCBryan1]

Fox news Alert:

Emergency vehicles on tarmac waiting for 747 with an engine out at Dulles Int'l airport. Developing...

[Red Badger]

I always have to laff when they tell you the seat cushions can be used as flotation devices.......If you ditch in the North Atlantic you’ll die of cold in 15 minutes if you survive the ditching...................

[patton]

One aircraft did a couple of years ago - don’t remember what type, but they lost all engines over the atlantic, glided to a landing more than a hundred miled away. Blew all the tires, on landing - I guess the PIC didn’t wan’t to try a go-around.

[teletech]

This is not entirely true. In the jet I fly we use about 60% N1 during landing on both engines. A triple engine failure in a 747 would be an extraordinary emergency.

Can you forward the engineering Physics and wind tunnel data that you used to determine other wise?

Isn't N1 the low compressor speed and N2 the high compressor speed?

[P-Marlowe]

In the jet I fly we use about 60% N1 during landing on both engines.

I suspect that you are trying to bring it in for a normal landing and you are using that 60% to overcome the drag caused by the flaps. The 747 has a glide ratio of 15/1, but of course that means coming in for a landing at cruising speed (i.e., 300+ MPH).

Yes that would be an extrordinary emergency. But you can make it to the airport, and if you are lucky the plane will come to a stop within a couple of miles from the end of the runway.

[Churchillspirit]

I believe the DC -10 is capable of crossing the atlantic with two engines. The third engine is just to satisfy aviation rules.

[magslinger]

I wasn't even thinking of fuel load. My experience is mostly with A-7's, and they don't have anything like that kind of combat radius.

Also, on a Corsair II, losing an engine is always a big deal.

[Churchillspirit]

FWIW, you don't need an engine to land a plane, you need the engines to keep it in the air.

LOL!

[CholeraJoe]

Same on an F-16. It has a hydrazine powered APU to give the pilot just enough light to find the bailout handles.

[GOP_1900AD]

Sounds like one of those old 377 stories .... ;)

[GOP_1900AD]

B-36 .... 3 turning and 2 burning ..... LOL!

[Blueflag]

That’s a 16:1 glide ratio.

Maybe that 747 is EMPTY! ... to go 120 miles from FL 38 as a ‘glider’

[philetus]

Im thinking of a DC10 with the two huge engines.”

11/3/1973
National Airlines
DC10-10
Albuquerque, New Mexico

Overspeeding of the starboard engine caused the engine to disintegrate. Pieces struck the fuselage, breaking a window, causing rapid explosive decompression and a passenger was sucked out of the plane. The plane landed safely.

Make sure you have a great pilot!

[GOP_1900AD]

R-4360s do have quite a distinctive sound. I miss it.

[P-Marlowe]

That’s a 16:1 glide ratio. Maybe that 747 is EMPTY! ... to go 120 miles from FL 38 as a ‘glider’

Well, you just kick out all the passengers, empty the cargo hold and dump all the fuel and you can probably expect a fairly routine emergency landing.

[Freeport]

DC-10: Three engines: Two wing mounted, one tail mounted

L1011: Three engines: Two wing mounted, one tail intake / stern exhaust

747: Four engined monster: One engine out... Hey, what was that noise? Yawn....

[Blueflag]

LOL 16:1 is better than a short-wing Tri-Pacer ;-)

[magslinger]

Really? The A-7’s APU was a windmill.

[Gay State Conservative]

I believe the DC -10 is capable of crossing the Atlantic with two engines. The third engine is just to satisfy aviation rules.

I think that an aircraft that crosses an ocean has to able to fly "X" number of miles with one engine out.I think transoceanic routes are calculated to ensure that an aircraft is never more that "Y" number of miles from an airfield at which it could land in an emergency.

[philetus]

When I left Viet Nam in 1971, we flew out on a four engine plane. I can’t remember what it was.

About an hour out we lost an engine. The pilot came out and told us and asked if we wanted to go back to Saigon and get another plane.Nobody did.

[LIConFem]

Since it appears that all will turn out well here, I'll post a relevant joke...

Upon losing an engine, the pilot of a 747 on a trans-Atlantic flight addresses the passengers on the PA:

Ladies and gentlemen, we've just lost our number-4 engine. This aircraft will have no problems making it to our desitination on 3 engines, but it will take us an extra hour or so.

Sighs and nervous laughter fill the cabin for a few minutes, then all returns to normal.

Twenty minutes later, a second engine flames out...

Attention passengers: we've now lost our number-1 engine, but again, this aircraft is designed to fly with only two. We will, however, be about 3 hours late in getting to our destination.

More sighs and nervous laughter, and another 20 minutes go by before a third engine craps out.

Um... Ladies and gentlemen, (...bla, bla, bla...) about 4 hours late to our destination.

Passengers are now getting nervous, and some, angry. Another 10 minutes pass...

Ladies and gentlement, we've just lost our 4^th and final engine!

An elderly woman sitting in First class stands up, shakes her fist in the air and says, "Damnit!! Now we'll be up here all day!!"

;o)