 |
37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
A B777 on engine start had the left engine oil pressure reach 55 psi then suddenly drop to 4 psi. Shut down engine. Discovered oil pump failed.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 703018 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200607 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0601 To 1200 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : zzz.airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Altitude | agl single value : 0 |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B777 Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | ground : pushback |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| ASRS Report | 703018 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical |
| Independent Detector | aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : oil pressure ind. other flight crewa other flight crewb |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Consequence | other |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
Narrative:
During pushback; we were cleared to start both engines by the guide man. Both engines began to start normally; however the left engine was slow to accelerate beyond 30% N3; and eventually began to 'hang up.' as I scanned the engine instruments; I noted that during the initial start sequence; left engine oil pressure came up normally; and approached 55 psi. As the start began to hang up; the oil pressure dropped immediately to near 4 psi; where I immediately selected off on fuel control switches. We called for a return to the gate; and were later informed that we had probably saved the engine from severe damage because of a failure of the oil pump.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A B777 ON ENG START HAD THE L ENG OIL PRESSURE REACH 55 PSI THEN SUDDENLY DROP TO 4 PSI. SHUT DOWN ENG. DISCOVERED OIL PUMP FAILED.
Narrative: DURING PUSHBACK; WE WERE CLRED TO START BOTH ENGS BY THE GUIDE MAN. BOTH ENGS BEGAN TO START NORMALLY; HOWEVER THE L ENG WAS SLOW TO ACCELERATE BEYOND 30% N3; AND EVENTUALLY BEGAN TO 'HANG UP.' AS I SCANNED THE ENG INSTS; I NOTED THAT DURING THE INITIAL START SEQUENCE; L ENG OIL PRESSURE CAME UP NORMALLY; AND APCHED 55 PSI. AS THE START BEGAN TO HANG UP; THE OIL PRESSURE DROPPED IMMEDIATELY TO NEAR 4 PSI; WHERE I IMMEDIATELY SELECTED OFF ON FUEL CTL SWITCHES. WE CALLED FOR A RETURN TO THE GATE; AND WERE LATER INFORMED THAT WE HAD PROBABLY SAVED THE ENG FROM SEVERE DAMAGE BECAUSE OF A FAILURE OF THE OIL PUMP.
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.