United Airlines loses engine, drops debris

That Boeing 777 was an early model (the 5th one built to be exact). FAA and NTSB will be looking at the maintenance records on that plane and the engine(Pratt & Whitney 4000 series turbofan).
As of January 1,656 Boeing 777s have been built making it the world’s most popular twin engine wide body airliner.

 

A Netherlands 747 freighter lost an engine after takeoff headed to the US. It had the same engine as the 777 so they are looking at that. Older engines with hollow fan blades not standing up to the stress.

 

Either that or it was a manufacturing defect that should’ve been caught from the get go(remember United Flight 232-deadly déjà vu).
Hollow fan blades are nothing new-Rolls Royce does the same thing on their Trent turbofan engines-which also power Boeing 777 aircraft. The blades are lighter than the solid fan blades but the hollowing out makes the blades more susceptible to metal fatigue.

 

As a former Aviation Mechanic, that mechanic who signed off on the preflight inspection is going to be in some hot water and some previous ones I suspect. They will grab and go over with a fine tooth comb it's maintenance records.

Also, after so many flight hours that engine should of had a NDI Inspection (basically an xray) it would have caught that crack before this accident.

 

That was many years ago and I think it was the pylon connection that failed.

One motor twisted off and hit the one right next to it and ripped it off.

 

I wonder when was the last time that particular engine underwent a major overhaul.

 

There was another incident the SAME DAY United 328 had its engine failure.
Boeing 747 Engine Parts Rain Down On Dutch Village After Engine Fire - Simple Flying

 

Yep, it will be interesting to find out. I bet you will find some of those maintenance logs/inspections penciled whipped.

It's amazing no one got hurt.

 

Without a doubt-borescope and magnaflux FTW!!!
United maintenance is going to have some explaining to do,and I wouldn’t be surprised if all the maintenance records are at the maintenance hub in San Francisco.