By: Whiskey Delta - 21st August 2004 at 19:35
You’re right, it’s a A320 cowling. I just found it online where it was improperly captioned and didn’t even bother to make sure it was right. Oops.
______________________________________________________________________
NTSB Identification: ATL04IA156
Scheduled 14 CFR Part 121: Air Carrier operation of Ryan International Airlines, Inc. (D.B.A. AirTran Airways)
Incident occurred Tuesday, July 13, 2004 in Atlanta, GA
Aircraft: Airbus Industrie A320-233, registration: N951LF
Injuries: 110 Uninjured.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
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 in flight in the vicinity of Atlanta, Georgia. The scheduled domestic air carrier flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 121 with an instrument flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The airline transport-rated captain, airline transport-rated first officer, four flight attendants, and 104 passengers were not injured, and the airplane sustained minor damage. The flight departed Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta, Georgia, at 1140 on July 13, 2004.
The flight departed runway 27R en route to Orlando, Florida. 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.
By: Dutchy - 21st August 2004 at 14:34
Can someone provide any details from this incident?
By: andrewm - 21st August 2004 at 14:31
That picture actually looks kinda sureal! Would be amazing to see that out of the window and picture is soo clear!
By: Bmused55 - 21st August 2004 at 11:47
What would have happened if the cowling had hit the wing? Would that have messed up the wing sufficiently enough for the plane to crash? If I am not mistaken the EL Al 747 crash near Amsterdam was contributed in part to the engine taking with it part of the wings control surfaces.
That was a different issue.
The engine fell off, and knocked off the engine beside it and as you say ripped off the control surfaces, namely the leading edge slats.
So in effect, the 747 was flying in two engines with one wing generating more lift than the other. A sad recipe for disaster.
This cowling situation shouldn’t prove too problematic. Sure it is alarming and perhaps could dent the leading edge devices but I wouldn’t think this alone could cause the aircraft to crash.
By: tenthije - 21st August 2004 at 11:42
What would have happened if the cowling had hit the wing? Would that have messed up the wing sufficiently enough for the plane to crash? If I am not mistaken the EL Al 747 crash near Amsterdam was contributed in part to the engine taking with it part of the wings control surfaces.
By: Bmused55 - 21st August 2004 at 11:34
oops.
Some ramp rat is gonna getting talking to
By: steve rowell - 21st August 2004 at 09:57
Imagine the drag
By: purser - 21st August 2004 at 09:52
Boeing or Airbus, it doesn’t look too healthy too me!
By: tenthije - 21st August 2004 at 09:24
That cooling system has been introduced by Airbus, not Boeing. You must realise by now that revolutionary changes are only done by Airbus these days. 🙂
By: purser - 21st August 2004 at 09:16
Wow, I think I’d be a little alarmed if I looked out of the window and saw that in flight!
Great photo though.
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August 21, 2004 at 3:29 am