Mechanic sucked into737 engine

Timbuff10 · January 16th, 2006, 17:37

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/01/16/air...ity/index.html

This had to be a nightmare for all involved.

Kristie · January 16th, 2006, 17:41

Geez, that's just awful!!! how far away do you need to be again before suck forces take over? I know it was talked about in a thread fairly recently...

My thoughts to friends and family!!

Timbuff10 · January 16th, 2006, 17:47

I think the danger zone is about 15 feet. They usually have it painted on the ramp so you know you are in the wrong place. When you have the ear protection on sometimes it kills your situational awareness though. I have seen mechanics get really close before when the engine is going so I guess I could see how this could happen.

When I worked the ramp I remember standing close enough so that my airport ID would raise up off my lanyard getting sucked toward the engine. They were spooling down at that point but still I guess it was pretty stupid.

falconvalley · January 16th, 2006, 18:58

I know from personal experience that a 150 pound human can stand at the inlet of a CFM56 (KC-135R) while it's at ground idle and not get sucked in. This is, BY NO MEANS, safe and was completely inadvertant when the data was accidently noted

. The military makes us wear 2 layers of hearing protection so it's easy to not notice things by sound. In fact, most of the time, I have to use my eyes and a flashlight to tell if an engine is running at night. That's probably because the APU's on the R-model are distinctly louder than the engines at idle. In the military, we use 35 feet as the safe distance from an engine inlet and the safe distance from the exhaust various based on power settings and can be over 300 feet.

AZBigDog · January 16th, 2006, 19:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timbuff10

I think the danger zone is about 15 feet. They usually have it painted on the ramp so you know you are in the wrong place. When you have the ear protection on sometimes it kills your situational awareness though. I have seen mechanics get really close before when the engine is going so I guess I could see how this could happen.

When I worked the ramp I remember standing close enough so that my airport ID would raise up off my lanyard getting sucked toward the engine. They were spooling down at that point but still I guess it was pretty stupid.

On the 737, the danger zone is 13 feet. The are are also lines painted on the engine cowls to indicate the danger zones.

It is a common practice for mechanics to have to approach an aircraft engine while it is running. There are ways to do this fairly safely. You must always approach the engine from the sides in these cases. Also if there is a need to increase power on the engine, the mechanic needs to step away until the engine spools down.

My thoughts go out to those involved.

mpenguin1 · January 16th, 2006, 19:14

Oh my, that is terrible, have not heard of something like this happening in quite a while...

falconvalley · January 16th, 2006, 19:30

I would imagine that engine was well above idle. Just the thought of it makes me feel horrible

Timbuff10 · January 16th, 2006, 19:41

Read a post about it on another site from a guy who claims to have been on a plane two gates away and saw it. I guess it was about as could be imagined...

OldTownPilot · January 16th, 2006, 19:49

As a ramper to all of my fellow aviation brothers and sisters out there stay safe.

Being in a rush with a delayed or broken airplane is no excuse for reducing safety margins. NOTHING is worth a bent plane or espicially an injured person.

Thoughs and prayers to him, his family and friends, and to all that saw this happen.

Aero_Engineer · January 16th, 2006, 21:48

I extend my condolences and sympathy to the family of the ramper. As it was said there is a danger zone painted yellow around the aircraft that you should not cross especially when the engines are on or the aircraft is about to push back.

FlyChicaga · January 16th, 2006, 22:43

I've heard they were up around 70% N1 doing a run-up when the guy was checking oil pressure, or something to that affect.

ASpilot2be · January 16th, 2006, 23:35

My condolences to him, the family, and friends

Diamnd15 · January 16th, 2006, 23:55

i just asked about that a few days ago on a post...on all of the ua 737's theres a black strip on the leading edge of the wing...and someone said thats where if your inside the strip you could be in trouble...its just really sad to hear that about someone...

shooter13 · January 17th, 2006, 14:56

Feel bad for the family. On the Enterprise we had a guy step into a prop. Killed instantly. Really sad and dangerous to be working near this stuff. Especially on a long shift. Stay safe on the ramp those of you who are out there!

Maximillian_Jenius · January 17th, 2006, 15:42

I used to be a "ramp rat" at CVG for big DL. So I worked around 737's,757's,767's & 777's not to mention other planes in the DL fleet. We were trained to always look for the flashing red beacon. If it was on so were the engines.

You always had to watch out for the over zealous hew hires who rushed the planes to chalk the gear before the red beacon was off. I've had to physcially restrain more then a few.

Not sure what CO policy is for wing mounted engines. But I worked the CVG ramp for 3 1/2 years and never any incidents,close calls yes but accidents no.

January 16th, 2006, 17:37	#1
Timbuff10 Old Skool Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Coloradan in Orange County, CA Posts: 3,234	Mechanic sucked into737 engine http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/01/16/air...ity/index.html This had to be a nightmare for all involved. __________________ My Photography My Airliners.net photos

January 16th, 2006, 17:41	#2
Kristie Big Chief's Woman Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona Posts: 18,215 Blog Entries: 3	Geez, that's just awful!!! how far away do you need to be again before suck forces take over? I know it was talked about in a thread fairly recently... My thoughts to friends and family!! __________________ Wife of a Delta B767 ER F/O jetgirls.net

January 16th, 2006, 17:47	#3
Timbuff10 Old Skool Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Coloradan in Orange County, CA Posts: 3,234	I think the danger zone is about 15 feet. They usually have it painted on the ramp so you know you are in the wrong place. When you have the ear protection on sometimes it kills your situational awareness though. I have seen mechanics get really close before when the engine is going so I guess I could see how this could happen. When I worked the ramp I remember standing close enough so that my airport ID would raise up off my lanyard getting sucked toward the engine. They were spooling down at that point but still I guess it was pretty stupid. __________________ My Photography My Airliners.net photos

January 16th, 2006, 18:58	#4
falconvalley Old Skool Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: KMKE Posts: 1,948	I know from personal experience that a 150 pound human can stand at the inlet of a CFM56 (KC-135R) while it's at ground idle and not get sucked in. This is, BY NO MEANS, safe and was completely inadvertant when the data was accidently noted . The military makes us wear 2 layers of hearing protection so it's easy to not notice things by sound. In fact, most of the time, I have to use my eyes and a flashlight to tell if an engine is running at night. That's probably because the APU's on the R-model are distinctly louder than the engines at idle. In the military, we use 35 feet as the safe distance from an engine inlet and the safe distance from the exhaust various based on power settings and can be over 300 feet. __________________ British Airways flight asks for push back clearance from terminal. Control Tower replies: "And where is the world's most experienced airline going today without filing a flight plan?"

January 16th, 2006, 19:30	#7
falconvalley Old Skool Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: KMKE Posts: 1,948	I would imagine that engine was well above idle. Just the thought of it makes me feel horrible __________________ British Airways flight asks for push back clearance from terminal. Control Tower replies: "And where is the world's most experienced airline going today without filing a flight plan?"

January 16th, 2006, 19:41	#8
Timbuff10 Old Skool Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Coloradan in Orange County, CA Posts: 3,234	Read a post about it on another site from a guy who claims to have been on a plane two gates away and saw it. I guess it was about as could be imagined... __________________ My Photography My Airliners.net photos

January 16th, 2006, 19:49	#9
OldTownPilot Old Skool Join Date: May 2005 Location: BGR (Bangor, ME) Posts: 2,931 Blog Entries: 4	As a ramper to all of my fellow aviation brothers and sisters out there stay safe. Being in a rush with a delayed or broken airplane is no excuse for reducing safety margins. NOTHING is worth a bent plane or espicially an injured person. Thoughs and prayers to him, his family and friends, and to all that saw this happen.

January 16th, 2006, 21:48	#10
Aero_Engineer Old Skool Join Date: May 2005 Location: California, USA Posts: 2,036	I extend my condolences and sympathy to the family of the ramper. As it was said there is a danger zone painted yellow around the aircraft that you should not cross especially when the engines are on or the aircraft is about to push back.

January 16th, 2006, 22:43	#11
FlyChicaga Old Skool Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 4,821	I've heard they were up around 70% N1 doing a run-up when the guy was checking oil pressure, or something to that affect. __________________ "Anyone can do the job when things are going right. In this business we play for keeps." Ernest K. Gann

January 16th, 2006, 23:35	#12
ASpilot2be Old Skool Join Date: May 2005 Location: Paradise:) Posts: 4,514	My condolences to him, the family, and friends __________________

January 16th, 2006, 23:55	#13
Diamnd15 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SF Bay Area, Cali Posts: 282	i just asked about that a few days ago on a post...on all of the ua 737's theres a black strip on the leading edge of the wing...and someone said thats where if your inside the strip you could be in trouble...its just really sad to hear that about someone...

January 17th, 2006, 14:56	#14
shooter13 Old Skool Join Date: May 2002 Location: South Carolina Posts: 1,952	GOSH thats sad Feel bad for the family. On the Enterprise we had a guy step into a prop. Killed instantly. Really sad and dangerous to be working near this stuff. Especially on a long shift. Stay safe on the ramp those of you who are out there! __________________ "Life is nothing but a never-ending quest to be remembered everyday by someone somewhere as 'that guy'."

January 17th, 2006, 15:42	#15
Maximillian_Jenius Old Skool Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: KPHX, KFFZ, KIWA Posts: 18,896	I used to be a "ramp rat" at CVG for big DL. So I worked around 737's,757's,767's & 777's not to mention other planes in the DL fleet. We were trained to always look for the flashing red beacon. If it was on so were the engines. You always had to watch out for the over zealous hew hires who rushed the planes to chalk the gear before the red beacon was off. I've had to physcially restrain more then a few. Not sure what CO policy is for wing mounted engines. But I worked the CVG ramp for 3 1/2 years and never any incidents,close calls yes but accidents no. __________________ Rear Admiral www.gayviator.com Maximillian Pegasus

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