Engine cowling separation

[dbaker]

Originally Posted by NTSB

On July 13, 2004, about 1200 eastern daylight time, an Airbus Industrie A320-233, N951LF, operated by Ryan International Airlines, Inc., as AirTran Airways Flight 4, returned for landing after a portion of the left engine cowling separated from the airplane

. . .

According to the captain, immediately after takeoff, the lead flight attendant called to inform him that a passenger reported seeing a cover come off the left engine. The captain received no cockpit indications of a problem, and the captain instructed the lead flight attendant to look out the window and verify. The captain stated he felt the airplane "shutter," and he contacted air traffic control and requested to return for landing. The lead flight attendant confirmed to the captain the left engine cowling was missing. The captain stated the No. 1 engine oil quantity indicator illuminated amber, and he declared an emergency. The engine continued to operate normally, and the flight returned for landing without further incident.

Preliminary examination of the airplane revealed both sides of the left engine cowling were separated, the left engine pylon was bent up, aft, and inboard; and the left wing slat outboard of the engine nacelle displayed an approximate 12-inch area with dent and puncture damage. The Union City Police Department retrieved the inboard side of the left engine cowling from a dirt roadway approximately 7.5 nautical miles west southwest of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Airport authorities found the outboard side of the left engine cowling in the grass beside runway 27R. (Preliminary Report)

Here's the aircraft:

[jetmech717]

Yeah I know, the Airplane is in our hangar right now with the engine off and some pretty good damage was done to the pylon. The Ryan mechanics said that (1) of their guys forgot to latch the cowlings back. I hear the FAA is pretty mad at Ryan Air because they are undermanned in ATL and this mech got slammed with inbounds and was by his self. Anyways the cowlings opened and got ripped up and over the wings. The left cowling punched a hole in the inboard slat. When they got ripped up the peeled the pylon back like a can opener. Ryan Air is using our hangar and it looks like the Airbus is going to be there for a few weeks.

[ithisk]

And where was AirTran to oversee the maintenance and operations of an aircraft that was operated with an AirTran flight # and in an AirTran-painted plane?

[717Doc]

What is this "Kindergarden" do we have to hold there hands every time they work on their airplane just because it is painted with our colors.
All Aircraft Mechanics are Pro's we work hard to get our tickets and to make sure the job is done right. So we should not have to stand over them and oversee there work.

[jetmech717]

ithisk wrote:

And where was AirTran to oversee the maintenance and operations of an aircraft that was operated with an AirTran flight # and in an AirTran-painted plane?

Maybe you should do some research before you ask stupid questions (yet again).

If you read the flight schedules...on the flights that Ryan Air or Air Wisconsin fly on it is stated "owned and operated by ......"

We pay them to fly the routes and that is it!!!!
They take care of their own planes and are held liable for their planes. It is their aircraft so they keep them up. We as AirTran maintenace do not touch those planes. It is their reputations on the line even if the planes are painted in AirTran colors.

Ithisk do you know anything about aviation? Even Dbaker knows how this contract is done. We have Miami Air flying some routes for us also (but they are not painted in AirTran)

[trs717]

Hey guys (Doc and Mech)...this board seems to be filled with armatures who have NO idea on how airlines work. You guys wasting your time with them. I tried to shine some light and offer first hand insight on some previous subjects, but to no use. These guys are a bunch of geeks who live in their mother's basements and afraid to talk to girls.
Reasoning with them is useless.

[dbaker]

[jetmech717]

Yeah I got that pic sent to me plus a few others of the plane the other day.
Leaving the cowlings un-latched is about like leaving your hood unlatched on your car. If the wind gets under it.....Its gone. The main thing that is lost if the cowlings seperate is the fire supression system of the engine. If there were to be a fire then the agent would not stay inside the compartment very well that way. Other than a little aerodynamic damage on the leading edge of the pylon it just looks bad. I'll bet that Ryan Int. was very apologetic to AirTran for this one.

[haze]

Just like Air Wisconsin and their CRJs, Ryan International and their A320s will no longer be flying routes for AirTran come Fall. AirTran is replacing Air Wisconsin's CRJs with their own new 717s, and Ryan International's A320s with their own new 737s. Can't happen soon enough for me, I made it a point not to fly any Air Wisconsin or Ryan International routes. AirTran mechanics are the ones who earn the FAA's coveted Diamond Award for safety and training on a regular basis. As such, I only trust my family on their young fleet serviced by their mechanics.

[jeromef]

Looks like you can change a company's name but not it's habits. AirTran, ValueJet whats the difference. Blaming a sub-contractor doesn't cut it. If it has an AirTran flight no., and the plane has AirTran livery, then I say its Airtran.