Simviation Forums

Posted: **Wed Nov 17, 2004 1:18 pm**

today i got this e-mail with the attached photos. what do you think of it?

This was sent by a Boeing engineer!

Those Rascally Chinese Engine Mechanics

Thought you all might like to see just how friendly the skies are in different parts of the world.

A pilot for a Chinese carrier landed in FRA (Frankfurt, Germany) for an unscheduled refueling stop. The reason soon became apparent to the ground crew: The fan on the number 3 engine didn't look so good. This had apparently been no problem for those rascally engine mechanics back in China: they took some sturdy straps and wrapped them around both the fan blades and the structures behind, thus stopping any unwanted windmilling and associated uncomfortable vibration caused by the suboptimal fan. Note that the straps are seatbelts....how resourceful! Off they went into the wild blue yonder with another revenue-making flight on only three engines!

When they got a bit low on fuel, they just set it down at the closest airport for a quick refill. That's when the problem started: Those Germans are kinda picky about this stuff, and they grounded the aircraft. The airline operator had to send a chunk of money to get the first engine replaced (took about 10 days), and the repair contractor had decided to do some impromptu inspection work on the other engines, none of which looked all that great either.

The result: a total of 3 engines were finally changed on this plane before it was permitted to fly again.

Posted: **Wed Nov 17, 2004 2:39 pm**

I find that story a tad hard to believe, but wonder what caused that damage to the blades? It must have been rather hard to damage all of those blades, from what I've seen a 2x4 does not do any damage to them when chucked in.

Posted: **Wed Nov 17, 2004 3:32 pm**

Woah!

Posted: **Thu Nov 18, 2004 3:48 pm**

Hi Bones. I think the photos are genuine enough but they're a little old now. I remember these doing the rounds a few years ago.

Posted: **Thu Nov 18, 2004 6:40 pm**

It's probably just one of those dumb e-mail stories that goes around. Someone finds some cool pics, then makes up some bogus story about it. But, that's just my take though.

(Awesome pics nonetheless!)

Posted: **Thu Nov 18, 2004 6:44 pm**

i posted these a while back a long while back, i did some research back then and i am sure the story was true. Have to go back and double check at some point

Posted: **Thu Nov 18, 2004 10:32 pm**

From the looks of it, sure looks like that engine injusted something heavy and perhaps rattled around in there for a short period of time, im surprised the compressor behind it still looks intact.. (visually anyways). But sheesh, what kind of aviation authority allows a plane to fly with seat belts wrapped on the fan and called it airworthy

Posted: **Fri Nov 19, 2004 6:40 am**

Nice pics....strong seatbelts

Posted: **Sat Nov 20, 2004 5:50 am**

Now I do actually remember this, and it is genuine. It was some Chinese airline, and the plane was grounded (in Holland I think), and they wouldn't let the plane fly until it had got a new servicable engine fitted.
Its kosher!

Mark

Posted: **Sun Nov 21, 2004 1:11 pm**

:o

remind me never to fly with a chinese airline :o

Posted: **Sun Nov 21, 2004 3:14 pm**

Chinese airlines are great! I've flown with Eastern and Southern and both were very good. They give lots of freebies like blankets and stuff, and the FA's are very professional.

Posted: **Mon Nov 22, 2004 12:14 am**

I just dont trust their aircraft maintainers

Posted: **Mon Nov 22, 2004 9:52 am**

LOL yeah, I guess, and now that China Eastern CRJ just crashed killing 50 some people. :'(

Posted: **Mon Nov 22, 2004 3:55 pm**

Can you imagine operating an aircraft like that! :o
Can that thing possibly fly smoothly. I know the tires on my cars are balanced. When they are out th slightest bit, you get a wobble or vibration at higher speeds! That thing had to to feel the effects of those pics!

Dave

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