ENGINE DAMAGE TO A NASA DC-8-72 AIRPLANE FROM A HIGH-ALTITUDE ENCOUNTER WITH A DIFFUSE VOLCANIC ASH CLOUD

This paper presents analysis of volcanic ash plume, ash particles collected in cabin air heat exchanger filters and removed from engines, trajectory from satellites, and data from onboard instruments and engine conditions relating to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) research airplane that flew through a volcanic ash cloud. The NASA DC-8 airborne sciences research airplane flew through a diffuse volcanic ash cloud of the Mt. Hekla volcano, inadvertently, in February 2000 during a flight from Edwards Air Force Base to Kiruna, Sweden. Sensitive research experiments and instruments detected the ash plume even though the ash plume was not visible to the flight crew. Post-flight visual inspections and in-flight performance checks did not reveal any damage to the engine first-stage fan blades or to the airplane. However, detailed examinations conducted subsequently revealed clogged turbine cooling air passages. The engines were removed and overhauled.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • These proceedings contain the abstract only of this presentation.
• Corporate Authors:

  Federal Coordinator, Meteorological Services & Support Research

  8455 Colesville Road, Suite 1500
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• Authors:
  • Grindle, T J
  • Burcham Jr, F W
• Conference:
  • 2nd International Conference on Volcanic Ash and Aviation Safety
  • Location: Alexandria, Virginia
  • Date: 2004-6-21 to 2004-6-24
• Publication Date: 2004-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 1p
• Monograph Title: Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Volcanic Ash and Aviation Safety, June 21-24, 2004, Alexandria, Virginia

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aircraft; Aircraft cabins; Airplanes; Analysis; Aviation safety; Clouds; Engines; Meteorological phenomena; Volcanic ash; Volcanoes
• Identifier Terms: Edwards Air Force Base; McDonnell Douglas DC-8
• Uncontrolled Terms: Aircraft instruments; Turbine cooling air passages
• Geographic Terms: Kiruna (Sweden); Mt. Hekla volcano
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00988819
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 12 2005 12:00AM