Using Engine Thrust for Emergency Flight Control: MD-11 and B-747 Results
Burcham Jr., Frank W. and Maine, Trindel A. and Burken, John J. and Bull, John (1998) Using Engine Thrust for Emergency Flight Control: MD-11 and B-747 Results. Technical Report NASA/TM-1998-206552, Research Engineering, NASA Dryden Flight Research Center.
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Abstract
With modern digital control systems, using engine thrust for emergency flight control to supplement or replace failed aircraft normal flight controls has become a practical consideration. The NASA Dryden Flight Research Center has developed a propulsion-controlled aircraft (PCA) system in which computer-controlled engine thrust provides emergency flight control. An F-15 and an MD-11 airplane have been landed without using any flight control surfaces. Preliminary studies have also been conducted that show that engines on only one wing can provide some flight control capability if the lateral center of gravity can be shifted toward the side of the airplane that has the operating engine(s). Simulator tests of several airplanes with no flight control surfaces operating and all engines out on the left wing have all shown positive control capability within the available range of lateral center-of-gravity offset. Propulsion-controlled aircraft systems that can operate without modifications to engine control systems, thus allowing PCA technology to be installed on less capable airplanes or at low cost, are also desirable. Further studies have examined simplified “PCA Lite” and “PCA Ultralite” concepts in which thrust control is provided by existing systems such as autothrottles or a combination of existing systems and manual pilot control.
| EPrint Type: | NASA Technical Memorandum |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | B-747, Emergency control, Engines only control, F-15, MD-11, Propulsion control, Propulsion-controlled aircraft (PCA) system, Throttle-only-control |
| Subjects: | Aircraft/Project: Boeing 747 Aircraft/Project: MD-11 Aircraft/Project: F-15 (01 - 09) Aeronautics: (03) Air Transportation And Safety |
| ID Code: | 147 |
| Deposited On: | 10 June 2004 |
| Additional Information: | 32 pages. Paper presented at the Aviation Safety Issues session of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers 43rd Gas Turbine and Aeroengine Technical Congress, Exposition, and Users Symposium, June 2–5, 1998, Stockholm, Sweden |
