Was taking a flight from FortLauderdale to Philadelphia when over Dover Delaware,the captain announced"all passengers we are about to enter severe weather conditions I want everyone seated and buckled up."Within seconds,the plane took a violent upward speed after which all hell broke loose!With baggage falling into the aisles,baby's screaming and general hysteria by the grace of God our plane was leveled and out of danger.Since we were only about(60) miles from our destination,I found this rather unusual....

Reply

At first I thought how in the world could this happen. We can send a man to the moon but we can't have a plane stay together in flight. Then after researching I found out that in a catastrophic failure they are suppose to fall off. The forces in a modern turbine engine could easily cause major damage to the airframe. So they design them to release in a bad situation. It's better than having them stay on and torque the wing around the plane. Granted I would not want to be the one who tested this in real life or be a passenger when it happened. It does show just how advanced the safety measures are in the planes. Releasing a badly damages engine also has aerodynamic benefits making the other engine not work as hard to keep the plane in the air. So while at first glance this looks like a severe engineering problem. It shows that modern engineering has taken into consideration forces a plane hopefully never encounters. They also figured out a way to have the plane safely bring back all the people on board. This may be a worst case situation. But in modern plane flight how many planes have lost an engine and then have landed safely with no further damage to the airframe or loss of life.
Hey you engineer guys on the 737. Thanks

Reply

So what happens to the folks on the ground when this design feature releases an engine at 50000 ft.

Reply

I'm impressed that the one engine was able to return the plane safely to the ground.

I've never heard of an "engine jettison" feature - gotta question that idea. I don't see why they wouldn't just shut it off and land as quickly as possible, seems much more plausible and easier to repair later.

Reply

IM GLAD THEY WHERE NOT FLYING OVER MY HOUSE ! ! !

like i tell people afraid to fly, you could be involved in an aviation accident and not even be on a plane.

#2 you need to re-research! nacells on modern Jet Engines are required to contain catastrophic failure! not automaticaly relase the engine from the plane.

Jonathan

Reply

Old joke.......
I heard a huge bang and the man next to me said our engine fell off. I said, "I hope the other one doesn't fall off. We'll never get down."

Reply

I know a lot of people fly because they have no choice. I flew a sailplane back in the midd 80s in a club that had many airline pilots in it. These guys where so out of control with booze and the way they flew the sailplanes that I never flew again. They where flying DC10s and 747s, some even changed from one carrier to another to avoid flying a DC10 because they knew it was unsafe. So I need to go somewhere I drive, at least I can make move to save myself where as on a big jet you can just kiss you ass goodbye when the pilot can't figure out what the computer is doing because its flying the plane not him or her.

Reply

Things fall off planes all the time. I live near a major airport and find lots of airplane parts in my yard, mostly landing gear doors. They seem to have a lot of trouble keeping those things on. I found a brand new Goodyear tire and rim once. My neighbor said it was off a 737. That was kinda cool. I find lots of those red blinking lights too. I usually just put the stuff on Ebay.
I haven't found an engine out there yet, but I'm still looking.

Reply

AFTER WORKING 30 SOME ODD YEARS ON MANY DIFFERENT AIRCRAFT, I HAVE TO SAY
THAT NO- AIRCRAFT HAS A DESIGN TO RELEASE AN ENGINE FROM THE COCKPIT
OR ANY PLACE ELSE, HOLD ON I HAVE TO LAFF, IVE SPENT 30 YEARS ON BOEINGS 747-100-200 AND BOEINGS 737-200-300-400
WHAT IS TRUE THAT DURING A CRASH LANDING THE ENGINE COMES OFF THE PYLON THEN GOES UP AND OVER THE WING, ENGINES DO NOT GET DROPPED
BOB......NYC ......AIRLINES

Reply

I was married to a boeing engineer, and believe me lots of those dudes have ISSUES! So much so it would be great if they'd give them all psych clearances before letting them touch an aircraft. he'd even remark before climbing on a boeing or douglas aircraft that 'I hope those jokers didn't f--k this one up!' Scary. Cost cutting maintainance is questionable at most airport hubs and third world airports is a crap shoot! If we could afford too we should do like John Travolta.

Reply

The reason jet engines on large A/C are hung on pylons, instead of inside wings, is to allow failing engines to break off quickly instead of causing a loss of control. When a high speed, internal rotating mass is suddenly locked to the engine housing, considerable rotational force is transmitted. Pylon mounted engines are fitted with "brittle bolts" and disconnects to allow as safe as possible release. Engines built inside A/C, being more aerodynamic, provide for greater speed with the same power to weight. With fighter A/C internal engine designs, it is performance considerations first, with internal failures often leading to loss of control, especially on takeoff. I testifed before Aviation Sub-Committe on this situation in 1961; regarding an engine monitor to warn of impending blade failures. The decision was to reject additional warning devices, pilots be damned. Still bitter after all these years, because more are still dying needlessly.

Reply

I was touched by Charlie O's comments. It's sad our government which claims 'for the people by the people' constantly omits it's citizens as human beings worthy of their consideration when it comes to making a buck. Yet, let one of their true cronies suffer from a decision enforced my their incompetance legislation and retoric will hit the airwaves calling us, to back them in their call for 'radical and sweeping chances,' this is the premise of 'Tombstone Technology.'We the citizen will matter for a moment, in the voting booth.

Reply

There is an old aviation axiom that says; In the event of an engine failure on a twin engined aircraft, the remaining good engine ALWAYS has enough power to take you to the scene of the crash !

Reply

THE BOEING 747 IS DESIGNED TO FLY WITH ONE ENGINE OPERATING !! THEY ARE TESTED BY FLYING ONLY WITH ONE ENGINE OPERATING !!

NO BIG DEAL...............IF YOU SEE THE OTHER FALL OFF THEN IT`S TIME TO CALL MOM !!!!!!!!!!

Reply

According to recent news reports, many pilots taxi around the airports the same way they drive cars...like morons. The high number of ground near-misses and collisions is starting to come to light. The safest bet is to board the plane after it has taken off. Interestingly, the worst air disaster in history was a ground collision.

Reply

Theoretically, a 747 will fly on one engine...key word: "theoretically". I saw a 5-engine 747 once. That was cool. They attached an extra engine under the wing for transport to another airport. It raised some eyebrows but I guess it flew ok.

Reply

When I was a kid, I was riding in the car with my mom. I looked over and said..."that plane is on fire". My mother looked and to her horror, I was right. The plane had taken off from SFO (San Francisco) and the engine fell off at the corner of Grand Avenue and Chestnut Avenue...right across the street from my sister in law's childhood home. Of all places, surrounded by homes and apartments, the engine landed in a pea patch....for local growers. No one was there and no one was hurt. The plane made it safely back to SFO.
But, man...what a sight to see!

Reply

My brother-in-law was supposed to be on that flight but he was killed in a car crash on the way to the airport.

Reply

My brother-in-law was supposed to be on that flight, but he was killed in a car crash on the way to the airport.

Reply

When an engine is falls off from a wing it is made to burn up in the atmosphere like the space shuttle. Then a secret engine inside it starts up and it safely pushes the plane to it finishing place with much vigerous. I know this is true because I learned this in airplane fixing school. If it hit a house or a tree it will bust.

Reply