Even minor volcanic ash encounters can cause major damage to aircraft
Grindle, Thomas J. and Burcham Jr., Frank W. (2002) Even minor volcanic ash encounters can cause major damage to aircraft. ICAO Journal 57(2):12-14.
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Abstract
In February 2000 the NASA DC-8 airborne sciences research airplane during a flight from Edwards Air Force Base to Kiruna Sweden, inadvertently flew through a diffuse volcanic ash cloud of the Hekla Volcano. Although there was no visible indication to the flight crew, sensitive research experiments and instruments detected the ash plume. In-flight performance checks and post-flight visual inspections revealed no damage to the airplane or engine 1st stage fan blades, but later detailed examination of the engines revealed clogged turbine cooling air passages. As a result, the engines were removed and overhauled at a cost of $3.2M. This paper presents analysis of the volcanic ash plume, trajectory, analysis of the ash particles collected in aircraft filters and removed from the engines, and engine conditions.
| EPrint Type: | Journal Article (Technical) |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | Aircraft, Ash Cloud, Safety, Volcanic Ash, Volcano |
| Subjects: | (01 - 09) Aeronautics: (03) Air Transportation And Safety |
| ID Code: | 1830 |
| Deposited On: | 08 Febuary 2008 |
| Additional Information: | 3 pages. Grindle, NASA Dryden Flight Research Center; Burcham Jr., AS&M, Inc. |
