Narrative:

En route to eddf from dov while in VMC and on an atlantic track; a precautionary shutdown of the #4 engine was performed as per company procedure. We initiated a 15 NM offset track prior to receiving official clearance in order to avoid possible traffic conflicts as we drifted down to FL310. After consulting with dispatch via sat-phone regarding destination WX; fuel burn and consequent landing fuel; I elected to land at bos. My reasons for choosing bos versus other possible options were: 1) the ability to commence the approach with sufficient fuel reserves to afford us additional options should the first approach (for whatever reason) prove unsuccessful; 2) its lack of ATC congestion; 3) overall airport suitability; 4) adequate WX forecast; 5) my personal familiarity with the airport and its approachs. Underlying the above was my own reluctance to continue to eddf and arrive there with potentially unsuitable WX and low on fuel thereby severely limiting available options. Bos appeared to be the safest; most reasonable choice at the time.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B747 FLT CREW HAS PRECAUTIONARY SHUTDOWN OF THE #4 ENG. DECLARES EMER AND DIVERTS TO NEAREST SUITABLE ARPT.

Narrative: ENRTE TO EDDF FROM DOV WHILE IN VMC AND ON AN ATLANTIC TRACK; A PRECAUTIONARY SHUTDOWN OF THE #4 ENG WAS PERFORMED AS PER COMPANY PROC. WE INITIATED A 15 NM OFFSET TRACK PRIOR TO RECEIVING OFFICIAL CLRNC IN ORDER TO AVOID POSSIBLE TFC CONFLICTS AS WE DRIFTED DOWN TO FL310. AFTER CONSULTING WITH DISPATCH VIA SAT-PHONE REGARDING DEST WX; FUEL BURN AND CONSEQUENT LNDG FUEL; I ELECTED TO LAND AT BOS. MY REASONS FOR CHOOSING BOS VERSUS OTHER POSSIBLE OPTIONS WERE: 1) THE ABILITY TO COMMENCE THE APCH WITH SUFFICIENT FUEL RESERVES TO AFFORD US ADDITIONAL OPTIONS SHOULD THE FIRST APCH (FOR WHATEVER REASON) PROVE UNSUCCESSFUL; 2) ITS LACK OF ATC CONGESTION; 3) OVERALL ARPT SUITABILITY; 4) ADEQUATE WX FORECAST; 5) MY PERSONAL FAMILIARITY WITH THE ARPT AND ITS APCHS. UNDERLYING THE ABOVE WAS MY OWN RELUCTANCE TO CONTINUE TO EDDF AND ARRIVE THERE WITH POTENTIALLY UNSUITABLE WX AND LOW ON FUEL THEREBY SEVERELY LIMITING AVAILABLE OPTIONS. BOS APPEARED TO BE THE SAFEST; MOST REASONABLE CHOICE AT THE TIME.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.