Bruno Glaviano
Flight report May 2004
USA flight pack “B”
747-400 PS-1, published IFR procedures; real weather; failure probability 50/20/0
KSFO KLAX; FL 300-240; 401NM; 1 hour 4 minutes
Engine n.3 fire during climb to cruise FL330; engine shut-down and fire extinguisher; descent to FL240 as computed by FMC “engine out” page: the three remaining engines were running at 103% to keep the plane flying! And speed was very close to stalling speed, I don’t know if any 744 had to extend flaps for cruise flight. SADDE6 STAR for rwy 25L has tight turns, and the stall horn blew more than once during final, even with engines running at max power, and plane in landing configuration with full flaps, very heavy above MLW. Anyway a safe and uneventful landing followed, demonstrating how a ride in the simulator can be a useful and thrilling experience.
KLAX KSAN; FL190; 159NM; 28 min
KSAN KSFO; FL300; 405NM; 1 hour 5 minutes
Plane was still very heavy, so to spare engines and frame, and to land below MLW, I trained in fuel dumping, and sprayed 37000 Kg of fuel in the southern California skies. Not to be done for real, but an interesting procedure to check on the sim.
KSFO KLAX; FL290; 328NM; 58 minutes
KLAX KSFO; FL300; 315NM; 53 min
Take-off at 361400Kg, close, MTOW, landing at 348900Kg, well above MLW (285400)
Hydraulic System n.3 failure
Total flights: 5; total time 4hours 28 minutes