Southwest 737 Engine Explosion

[colmbo]

[NatCigg]

looks like he dropped 10k in about two minutes.

Sat 10:08:44 AM    30.0050    -90.2456    13°    North    149    171        Level    Houston Center
Sat 10:09:33 AM    30.0464    -90.2342    22°    Northeast    185    213    1,800    2,795 Climbing    Houston Center
Sat 10:10:00 AM    Departure (KMSY) @ Saturday 09:10:00 AM CDT       SWA
Sat 10:10:12 AM    30.0847    -90.2206    17°    North    199    229    4,100    2,727 Climbing    Houston Center
Sat 10:10:39 AM    30.0975    -90.1914    63°    Northeast    262    302    4,800    2,903 Climbing    Houston Center
Sat 10:11:14 AM    30.0997    -90.1408    87°    East    253    291    7,100    3,563 Climbing    Houston Center
Sat 10:12:15 AM    30.1006    -90.0500    89°    East    277    319    10,500    2,829 Climbing    Houston Center
Sat 10:13:17 AM    30.1008    -89.9436    90°    East    331    381    12,900    2,855 Climbing    Houston Center
Sat 10:14:19 AM    30.0842    -89.8333    100°    East    348    400    16,400    2,927 Climbing    Houston Center
Sat 10:15:20 AM    30.0681    -89.7197    99°    East    362    417    18,900    2,634 Climbing    Houston Center
Sat 10:16:22 AM    30.0683    -89.5728    90°    East    390    449    21,800    2,226 Climbing    Houston Center
Sat 10:17:24 AM    30.0869    -89.4436    80°    East    407    468    23,500    1,756 Climbing    Houston Center
Sat 10:18:25 AM    30.1017    -89.3061    83°    East    429    494    25,400    1,805 Climbing    Houston Center
Sat 10:19:27 AM    30.1172    -89.1619    83°    East    448    516    27,200    1,694 Climbing    Houston Center
Sat 10:20:29 AM    30.1333    -89.0164    83°    East    455    524    28,900    1,610 Climbing    Houston Center
Sat 10:21:30 AM    30.1514    -88.8664    82°    East    473    544    30,500    878 Climbing    Houston Center
Sat 10:22:32 AM    30.1756    -88.6892    81°    East    461    531    30,700    -1,403 Climbing    Houston Center
Sat 10:23:34 AM    30.1919    -88.5522    82°    East    439    505    27,600    -2,323 Descending    Houston Center
Sat 10:24:36 AM    30.2008    -88.4175    86°    East    426    490    25,900    -1,452 Descending    Houston Center
Sat 10:25:32 AM    Diverted (KPNS) @ Saturday 09:25:32 AM CDT - 76sm East (75°)      Jacksonville Center
Sat 10:25:38 AM    30.2111    -88.2903    85°    East    408    470    24,600    -1,561 Descending    Houston Center
Sat 10:26:39 AM    30.2294    -88.1717    80°    East    385    443    22,700    -1,729 Descending    Houston Center
Sat 10:27:36 AM    30.2428    -88.0553    82°    East    372    428    21,200    -1,533 Descending    Jacksonville Center
Sat 10:28:09 AM    30.2614    -87.9897    72°    East    345    397    20,400    -1,839 Descending    Jacksonville Center
Sat 10:28:38 AM    30.2747    -87.9503    69°    East    350    403    19,300    -2,111 Descending    Jacksonville Center
Sat 10:29:03 AM    30.2939    -87.9003    66°    East    349    402    18,500    -1,548 Descending    Jacksonville Center
Sat 10:29:40 AM    30.3150    -87.8506    64°    Northeast    349    402    17,700    -5,152 Descending    Jacksonville Center
Sat 10:30:42 AM    30.3547    -87.7342    68°    East    338    389    10,000    -3,696 Descending    Jacksonville Center
Sat 10:31:45 AM    30.3697    -87.6408    79°    East    318    366    10,000     Level    Jacksonville Center
Sat 10:33:49 AM    30.3553    -87.4653    95°    East    282    325    10,000     Level    Jacksonville Center
Sat 10:34:51 AM    30.3883    -87.3967    61°    Northeast    264    304    10,000     Level    Jacksonville Center
Sat 10:35:53 AM    30.4542    -87.3697    19°    North    262    302    10,000     Level    Jacksonville Center
Sat 10:39:00 AM    30.6144    -87.2714    28°    Northeast    226    260    10,000     Level    Jacksonville Center
Sat 10:40:02 AM    30.6247    -87.2103    79°    East    218    251    10,000     Level    Jacksonville Center
Sat 10:42:11 AM    Arrival (KPNS) @ Saturday 09:42:11 AM CDT       FlightAware Estimated

https://flightaware.com/live/flight/SWA3472/history/20160827/1400Z/KMSY/KPNS/tracklog

this video clip is kinda goofy. about latches.

[Brooke]

Notice the two open cowl latches on top of engine.

Yeah, I was wondering about that, too.

[Traveler]

looks like he dropped 10k in about two minutes.

He got rid of 20,000ft is a little over 7 minutes, better yet he managed it while shedding about 270 miles per hour.. The speed was much harder to manage then the alt, I'll bet yea, just wondering if he hand flew it or was it an automated plunge to 10K.

[donnieboy]

The cowlings are in place. The inlet came apart.

[Ripsnort]

No need, most of us knew what you meant.

[earl1937]

The damage is strange looking.  It doesn't seem to be an engine explosion -- the engine is still there, with front fan blades intact.

It looks like the front engine cowling just disintegrated or tore off on its own.  Weird.

My two cents worth...I think the thrust reversers deployed by them selves or was accidently deployed by a careless crew member!

[earl1937]

 

The cowlings are in place. The inlet came apart.

I am confused, I thought it was the rear of the engine which was damaged!

[Serenity]

I am confused, I thought it was the rear of the engine which was damaged!

That picture is the front end of the engine

[NatCigg]

looking at a good cowl inlet like this one it is possible to see what could of been the problem, premature detonation. 

[icepac]

At 600mph, a fist sized hole on the leading edge of the inlet will pressurize the portion ahead of the bulkhead.

From there, it's anybody's guess as to the sequence of failure from overpressure.

It's also anybody's guess whether it was a slot formed by a latch left loose which enlarged in the 600mph stream or whether it was foreign object damage that let it get pressurized.

Usually, the force needed to remove a unlatched cowl occurs below 250mph.

[donnieboy]

At 600mph, a fist sized hole on the leading edge of the inlet will pressurize the portion ahead of the bulkhead.

From there, it's anybody's guess as to the sequence of failure from overpressure.

It's also anybody's guess whether it was a slot formed by a latch left loose which enlarged in the 600mph stream or whether it was foreign object damage that let it get pressurized.

Usually, the force needed to remove a unlatched cowl occurs below 250mph.

Spot on. Even a smaller hole would grow fast in the wind stream and cause the end result we are seeing. So many things could cause the initial damage. FOD, bird strike, bleed air overpressure in the "D" ring, structural failure of the inner barrel skins(seen that on a few)...
Once the inlet starts shredding a lot of it goes thru the core and poof, kills the engine.

[Traveler]

At 600mph, a fist sized hole on the leading edge of the inlet will pressurize the portion ahead of the bulkhead.

From there, it's anybody's guess as to the sequence of failure from overpressure.

It's also anybody's guess whether it was a slot formed by a latch left loose which enlarged in the 600mph stream or whether it was foreign object damage that let it get pressurized.

Usually, the force needed to remove a unlatched cowl occurs below 250mph.

I agree with your statement, however where do you see this aircraft at 600mph?  As I thought and speculated in an earlier post the NTSB in their preliminary findings has chosen to investigate this event  as a engine containment failure.  Lets wait to see the final report of the investigation and actual findings.