Engine cowling falls of of JetBlue flight

[T-Bird76]

EWR-FLL bound jetBlue flight lost part of its engine cowling.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/04/05/pi ... latestnews

[Delta777LR]

wow, im glad the plane made it back safely

[threeholerglory]

just another reason why Boeing is flying and Airbus is dying.....

[NLovis]

just another reason why Boeing is flying and Airbus is dying.....

I couldnt have said that better myself though i'm glad everything turned out ok. Hmm was the cowling cover secured properly? From the picture it looks like the cowling lifted up from the wind then it ripped off before taking off. Glad that didnt hit the wing or things could have been different. Also glad it was caught before it got caught by another a/c trying to depart.

[Gerard]

[quote="threeholerglory"]just another reason why Boeing is flying and Airbus is dying.....

??? :?

[LGA777]

Since the flight departed EWR around 0600 it likely overnighted in EWR and perhaps contract MTC ( I doubt B6 has their own MTC at EWR, I know in LGA they use contract MTC) opened the cowling as part of a RON Mtc check and did not re-latch it properly when they finished. I am not accusing anyone of making a mistake, just posting what I believe may have caused this incident !

[PhilDernerJr]

I won't delete it, but please avoid the big airbus/boeing jabs. This type of incident is not manufacturer specific. Thanks guys. Glad all are ok.

[hiss srq]

This is apparently an issue with the A32S that has the RR cowling. At USAirways they have a rule that there must be two mechanics present when they close the cowling on RR powered Airbuses to verify proper procedure is followed and to ensure that the latch is infact locked onto the rollbar that locks the cowling down. It is possible to push the cowling down on the RR cowling and lose the latch in such a way that it is visibly flushed to the rest of the cowling without the hook actually grabing and locking around the roll bar inside the lock mechanisim. I will see if I can find, scan and post a diagram of it to explain it for those of you who are more of a visual learner.

[Matt Molnar]

This is apparently an issue with the A32S that has the RR cowling. At USAirways they have a rule that there must be two mechanics present when they close the cowling on RR powered Airbuses to verify proper procedure is followed and to ensure that the latch is infact locked onto the rollbar that locks the cowling down. It is possible to push the cowling down on the RR cowling and lose the latch in such a way that it is visibly flushed to the rest of the cowling without the hook actually grabing and locking around the roll bar inside the lock mechanisim. I will see if I can find, scan and post a diagram of it to explain it for those of you who are more of a visual learner.

JetBlue 320s have IAE engines. Are the cowlings the same?

[kc2aqg]

JetBlue 320s have IAE engines. Are the cowlings the same?

I think that's what he meant, the IAE engines are a consortium of PW & RR. The CFM56 is GE/SNECMA. Since US operates both IAE & CFM powered birds, this extra procedure would be in place for the IAE birds.

[NLovis]

This is all very interesting to learn. I never knew about this before. I would enjoy seeing this diagram hiss.

[hiss srq]

Matt, I was indeed referring the the IAE V2500. It is referred to as a RR cowling due to the partial ownership of RR in the project as well as the fact that the cowling design resembles the RB211's. Hope that clears it up.

[Matt Molnar]

Cool, thanks.