Two Emergency Landings by Delta

[jimntx]

No injuries. Both B767s.

Story on CNN

 

[FrugalFlyerv2.0]

Plus another one in SNN: WSJ link

 

[RDU Jetblast]

Sometimes, a rash of events happen to one airline randomly. Othertimes there are underlying issues.

What do you think the investigators will find?

 

[metopower]

Sometimes, a rash of events happen to one airline randomly. Othertimes there are underlying issues.

What do you think the investigators will find?

Nothing. Just do the math and look at the industry standard per year

 

[jimntx]

Well, if it happened at my airline (AA) which it has, our corporate spokeswoman would be quick to say, "Three engine failures in less than 24 hours in no way indicates a systemic problem with our engines at AA."

 

[WorldTraveler]

I find it interesting - which I did not know - that DL has had an above average number of engine problems this year... but keep in mind that while 3 engine problems in one day is noteworthy, it is clearly a statistical aberration. Since one of the a/c was a 757 which does not use the same engine as any version of the 767, there might be no connection at all. Since the domestic flight could have been using a non-ETOPS 767 (not sure of the flight/a/c type involved), there might actually be 3 types of engines and airframes involved... so there may be little connecting the events.

Definitely worth keeping an eye on but given that DL is the world's largest operator of both the 757 and 767, they would be more likely to have problems on those fleets than other carriers.

 

[RDU Jetblast]

I find it interesting - which I did not know - that DL has had an above average number of engine problems this year... but keep in mind that while 3 engine problems in one day is noteworthy, it is clearly a statistical aberration. Since one of the a/c was a 757 which does not use the same engine as any version of the 767, there might be no connection at all. Since the domestic flight could have been using a non-ETOPS 767 (not sure of the flight/a/c type involved), there might actually be 3 types of engines and airframes involved... so there may be little connecting the events.

Definitely worth keeping an eye on but given that DL is the world's largest operator of both the 757 and 767, they would be more likely to have problems on those fleets than other carriers.

Three different engines, three different airframes, one engine shop?

 

[metopower]

I find it interesting - which I did not know - that DL has had an above average number of engine problems this year... but keep in mind that while 3 engine problems in one day is noteworthy, it is clearly a statistical aberration. Since one of the a/c was a 757 which does not use the same engine as any version of the 767, there might be no connection at all. Since the domestic flight could have been using a non-ETOPS 767 (not sure of the flight/a/c type involved), there might actually be 3 types of engines and airframes involved... so there may be little connecting the events.

Definitely worth keeping an eye on but given that DL is the world's largest operator of both the 757 and 767, they would be more likely to have problems on those fleets than other carriers.

Not unusual for the replacement engine to have a write up on the next leg or two after the replacement. You have
To look at WHAT the problem was not that it was shut down. ( could be a loose oil line causing a leak or loose hyd line or loose cannon plug sending a false warning ) Most times that an engine is shut down is to prevent further damage or as a precaution not because of a catastrophic failure. Plus in this age of two engine aircraft the restrictions on continued flight after engine failure now lead to landing at nearest suitable airport. In the old days there would be a consideration to restart a failed engine...and you may if there was the greater need but it is always better to just land as soon as practical.

 

[WorldTraveler]

Having been on aircraft w/ IFSDs a couple times, I know some are precautionary - perhaps related to bad instrumentation when nothing is wrong w/ the mechanicals of the engine - and others are genuine mechanical problems.
I am not as interested in the fact that 3 occurred in one weekend as the fact that DL stated that they have had a higher than expected number of engine related issues.

Since DL does its engine maintenance n-house and insources as well, there should be little that should have changed with the merger from an overhaul maintenance perspective.

However, the PMDL a/c (of which these 3 incidents apparently all involved) are now flowing through the combined DL/NW system which means that "new hands" are touching the aircraft via line maintenance and flight ops. Whether those groups have had any effect on the reliability of any part of the DL fleet is worth asking but it isn't unexpected or even being suspicious to ask the question of whether changes in procedures have occurred by any group that may have affected the reliability of the fleet.

Any non-biased investigation has to ask what is going on and use enough data to eliminate speculation and draw the most accurate conclusions regardless of who might be shown to be at fault.

But it is still within the realm of possibility that there is a statistical aberration at work and nothing definitive may be found...due diligence requires being able to distinguish between statistical aberrations and genuinely correctable causes.