AME Posted November 18, 2004 Share Posted November 18, 2004 From an email I got, don't know how old the info is ROMULUS, Mich. (AP) -- A cargo plane from Chicago landed safely at Detroit Metropolitan Airport early Thursday after losing an engine that may have landed in Lake Michigan. Federal Aviation Administration officials in Chicago say a Kalitta Air LLC jet took off from O'Hare International Airport late Wednesday. It was bound for New York's Kennedy International Airport when it reported mechanical problems with one of its engines when it was 15 miles east of Battle Creek. The Boeing 747-100 was diverted to Detroit Metro in Romulus, where it landed without incident. No one was injured. When the plane landed, flight officials discovered the engine not only was a mechanical loss, but was physically gone, the FAA said. It was believed to have been lost over Lake Michigan, but law enforcement officials were searching the Battle Creek area as well. The National Transportation Safety Board was leading the investigation and the FAA was lending support. Kalitta is based in Ypsilanti and offers worldwide air freight service. * Airplane is a 747 converted to freighter (with side cargo door). * Part of the engine remains attached at the aft engine mount. * The airplane was climbing thru 18,000 ft after departure from ORD. * The crew "sensed an event" but there were no abnormal indications in the flight deck (prior to the event). * An on-board mechanic went and looked out the window and saw the No.1 engine gone. * The airplane diverted to Detroit with an uneventful landing. * The engine is suspected to be in Lake Michigan. Data from initial ground inspection * The engine departed the pylon (the pylon is still attached to the airplane) * The separation is near some welds that are discolored * Part of the outboard LE slat was damaged/missing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AME Posted November 18, 2004 Author Share Posted November 18, 2004 second picture Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AME Posted November 18, 2004 Author Share Posted November 18, 2004 third picture Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seeker Posted November 18, 2004 Share Posted November 18, 2004 The third picture is the scary one...looks like the engine departed under power and then fell back over the top of the wing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AME Posted November 18, 2004 Author Share Posted November 18, 2004 Didn't AA lose a DC10 when the #1 engine departed the airframe over the wing on T/O?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boestar Posted November 18, 2004 Share Posted November 18, 2004 Looking at all 3 pictures it looks like that is exactly what happened. The aft Engine mount is still fixed to the pylon structure and actually separated at the engine. This is an unusual failure for sure. The other 2 747s that lost engines about 12 years ago actually had failed pylon fuse pins. If the Aft engine mount gave way prior to the front mount the engine would be swung up over the top of the wing. I may be mistaken but I think this is done by design. Good pics though. B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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