Atlanta Runway Issue

[John A]

Sounds like a mechanical issue: http://www.cfnews13.com/content/news...plane_skids_of

[ATL_Av8r]

Great reporting there

Headline: "Delta plane skids off runway at Atlanta airport"

First friggin line in the article: "Authorities say a jet sustained significant damage when it rolled of a taxiway"

It was in maintenance, not rev at the time so hopefully twilk can get us some better pics

[twilk]

Who me??

I won't be able to distribute any pics I get of this. At least not the official stuff.

If I get some via other channels then I can.

Still no details of what happened. It appears they are very luck it went the way it did. The embankment gets even steeper just a little forward of that. We'll fix it.

[dblueS40]

Better to happen during a maintanence check than during an actual landing with a full plane.

[Ikey3125]

Even if the brakes fail, the crew should have killed power and applied emergency brakes...

[joness0154]

Even if the brakes fail, the crew should have killed power and applied emergency brakes...

Brake failure? Yeah right. 99% chance that they forgot to apply the brakes.

I've seen how the maintenance folks taxi airplanes here around ORD.

[ATL_Av8r]

Who me??

I won't be able to distribute any pics I get of this. At least not the official stuff.

If I get some via other channels then I can.

Still no details of what happened. It appears they are very luck it went the way it did. The embankment gets even steeper just a little forward of that. We'll fix it.

I've seen enough of the local coverage pics. Was wondering if you could get us the up-close stuff

Looks like the east end of taxiway E all the way down by 26L threshold?

Any reports on how many pairs of underwear needed to be changed?

[twilk]

I've seen enough of the local coverage pics. Was wondering if you could get us the up-close stuff

Looks like the east end of taxiway E all the way down by 26L threshold?

Any reports on how many pairs of underwear needed to be changed?

pics of damage
Yup, east end of echo.

I could get lots of close up pics of damage, but I can't post them. I am off til next monday anyway

2 mechs on board so unless one was going commando I would say 2 pair of underwear.

[Brendan@bwalkauto]

D'oh.

[twilk]

Supposedly 310 ft of skidmarks on the taxiway (from the tires, lol)

Basically wet pavement and max power and the plane started bouncing and broke free and it took that long for it to stop after power reduction. that's not official, but it's what I have heard, and sounds about right. The guys running the plane are some of the best mechs I know.

Damage was really minimal. Shouldn't be out of service long. Depends quite a bit on how much investigation needs to be done.

[joness0154]

Supposedly 310 ft of skidmarks on the taxiway (from the tires, lol)

Basically wet pavement and max power and the plane started bouncing and broke free and it took that long for it to stop after power reduction. that's not official, but it's what I have heard, and sounds about right. The guys running the plane are some of the best mechs I know.

Damage was really minimal. Shouldn't be out of service long. Depends quite a bit on how much investigation needs to be done.

Your best mechanics were doing full power run ups on wet pavement without chocks? :shudder:

[ATL_Av8r]

Your best mechanics were doing full power run ups on wet pavement without chocks? :shudder:

wouldn't chocks hamper the testing of a braking system?

[joness0154]

wouldn't chocks hamper the testing of a braking system?

Of course

[dubfan]

What do you suppose would've happened if that plane had been on a treadmill... Connected to a control system that would move the treadmill as fast as the plane's wheels were spinning, but in the opposite direction?

[joness0154]

What do you suppose would've happened if that plane had been on a treadmill... Connected to a control system that would move the treadmill as fast as the plane's wheels were spinning, but in the opposite direction?

[Ikey3125]

Your best mechanics were doing full power run ups on wet pavement without chocks? :shudder:

Only time I've ever done engine runs without chocks was for full power runs on F-15s...and those times I have a tail hook hold back tool installed. But even then, I'm still standing on the brakes as I'm powering up.

[twilk]

Your best mechanics were doing full power run ups on wet pavement without chocks? :shudder:

Don't know if they were chocked or not, but personally, I don't have a lot of faith in chocks stopping anything. I've pulled planes over chocks with a tug before without ever noticing it.

I've also powered a plane over chock before.

Chocks will keep you from rolling when parked and no brake pressure, but takeoff power, not hardly.

I will bet they add a minimum fuel requirement to the 737 for power runs after this. Currently there is no requirement for that. Some of our planes need as much as 100k lbs of fuel for power runs.

[DonL]

What do you suppose would've happened if that plane had been on a treadmill... Connected to a control system that would move the treadmill as fast as the plane's wheels were spinning, but in the opposite direction?

[dubfan]

OMG -- helo on a turntable!!!

Can't breathe...

Can't stop laughing...

Obviously that plane @ ATL didn't have its treadmill speed set fast enough.

[ATL_Av8r]

Oh, it will takeoff, but the sound quality will be atrocious on THAT turntable with that tonearm! Get a [insert audiophile fapfest turntable brand name here], you cheap bastard

[dubfan]

F* THE CHOCKS!!! GET ME A TREADMILL!!!

If they ever make another Airplane! movie, they should totally have a scene with this gag in it.

[Gern_Blanston]

I've also powered a plane over chock before.

Chocks will keep you from rolling when parked and no brake pressure, but takeoff power, not hardly.

+1.

[joness0154]

+1.

It still doesn't mean the wheels shouldn't be chocked. I've seen some pretty clever mechanics fabricate run up chocks that look nearly impossible to jump, especially in a loaded aircraft and standing on the brakes. Those little puny things they use for parked aircraft wouldn't do the job, I agree.

FWIW, that Etihad A340 also wasn't chocked.

[Gern_Blanston]

It still doesn't mean the wheels shouldn't be chocked.

Absolutely. But an airplane can jump just about any chock smaller than the diameter of the tire if you pour the coals to it. I watched a Turbo Commander jump some really big chocks one day on a maintenance run (pilot, not mechanic at the controls) We laughed because nothing was damaged and he only rolled about 15 feet before he got it stopped.

[ATL_Av8r]

Absolutely. But an airplane can jump just about any chock smaller than the diameter of the tire if you pour the coals to it. I watched a Turbo Commander jump some really big chocks one day on a maintenance run (pilot, not mechanic at the controls) We laughed because nothing was damaged and he only rolled about 15 feet before he got it stopped.

I'm sure the wing spar LOVED every minute of it

[stratclub]

I would say, most likely the run crew failed to follow procedure. On pretty much all heavy's which have hydraulic brakes, except for the 787 which has electric brakes, the procedures is to turn on the primary hydraulic system that powers the brakes,verify pressure and then set the brakes. If the brakes were already set you are suppose to release them and reapply them.

If the brakes were set prior to having full system pressure, such as set for parking, then what ever pressure is trapped in the parking circuit is what is providing braking and not full system pressure.

Been involved in more engine runs than I can remember and even on wet pavement, if the brakes are set correctly I have never seen a heavy even try to jump the chocks. This doesn't include fighters which are a different animal.

[twilk]

I would say, most likely the run crew failed to follow procedure. On pretty much all heavy's which have hydraulic brakes, except for the 787 which has electric brakes, the procedures is to turn on the primary hydraulic system that powers the brakes,verify pressure and then set the brakes. If the brakes were already set you are suppose to release them and reapply them.

If the brakes were set prior to having full system pressure, such as set for parking, then what ever pressure is trapped in the parking circuit is what is providing braking and not full system pressure.

Been involved in more engine runs than I can remember and even on wet pavement, if the brakes are set correctly I have never seen a heavy even try to jump the chocks. This doesn't include fighters which are a different animal.

Trust me on this, they had the brakes set properly.