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Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Aircraft engine failure

What happens when a aero unit turbine wheel fails.
1230 PM, Friday, June 2, 2006 at LAX. XXX Airlines Boeing
767 doing a high power engine run had a #1 engine HPT (high pressure turbine) failure.

The HPT (High Pressure Turbine) failed catastrophically and punctured left wing, #2 engine, peppered the fuselage, and set fire to the aircraft. The turbine disk exited the engine,
sliced through the aircraft belly, and lodged in the outboard
side of the #2 engine. (on the opposite wing of the aircraft)

Choose your seats accordingly :)

Update:  Apparently the HP Turbine disks, which were forged from titanium alloy, had incorrect percentages of the alloy materials.  This allowed stress cracks to form on the disks, which of course failed under high stress.

Below, part of the failed HP turbine disk, lodged in the engine on the opposite wing of the aircraft.


Same description, different angle.


Damage to the aircraft skin.  No surprises here - it's basically thick aluminum foil.


Below, the engine that suffered the failure.  The compressor section is to the right.  The failed disk split the compressor and turbine sections, and of course severed oil and fuel systems.  Flame escaped the turbine and the compressor fed the fire with plenty of air.  Not sure if the fire supression system was damaged also.


Close-up of the damaged section.


Fire damage aft of the engine.


Scorched paint on the fuselage.


Damaged engine cowling.

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