747-8F damaged in testing

[thewinchester]

From ATI and FlightBlogger, Boeing's 747-8F test aircraft sustained significant damage to an engine in an incident involving an aircraft tug:

A Closer Look: 747-8F engine damaged in Victorville
By Jon Ostrower on June 7, 2010 6:22 PM

Boeing disclosed late last week that 747-8F - RC521 - had sustained damage to its number four General Electric GEnx engine while the aircraft was being towed at Southern California Logistics Airport in Victorville, California. The aircraft was loaded with fuel as it was being prepared for nautical air miles testing and weighed an estimated 835,000lbs at the time of the collision. Additional details have emerged about the collision, as well as several photographs that illustrate the incident.

Fortunately, no one was injured in this incident and the damage, while significant, was only superficial and did not damage the GEnx-2B's internal engine components. As you can see, the tug, which was parked at the time, sustained the brunt of the damage. The inlet cowl lip damaged measured 35 inches across and 17 inches wide, as well as a 17 inch gash on the underside of the cowling.

FlightBlogger article includes full photos, and I don't think the damage will be buffed out anytime soon

 

[markis10]

I bet the aircraft is back in service while the tug will take a little longer

 

[harvyk]

It'll buff right out... The plane and the tug...

 

[NM]

I bet the aircraft is back in service while the tug will take a little longer

And wonder if the driver of the towing tug is "back in service"?

 

[v8Statesman]

And wonder if the driver of the towing tug is "back in service"?

The article claims the Tug was parked at the time of the incident...unless there was a 2nd tug.

 

[markis10]

Obviously parked in the wrong spot in terms of aircraft movements!

 

[NM]

The article claims the Tug was parked at the time of the incident...unless there was a 2nd tug.

The article does include "while the aircraft was being towed" so I assume there was a another tug towing the aircraft at the time.

 

[markis10]

Tug drivers dont always get the message, I think we averaged a go round every month from a tug not doing what it was told to when I worked in the SYD tower!

 

[samh004]

Wow, that a lot of damage. From a bump.

 

[NM]

Wow, that a lot of damage. From a bump.

There is a just little bit of momentum from 375+ Tonnes of rolling mass :shock:

 

[markis10]

The article does include "while the aircraft was being towed" so I assume there was a another tug towing the aircraft at the time.

Maybe it was a Touareg doing the tow?

 

[Mal]

From the photos and description, surely the fix for the plane would be to replace the cowling around the engine.

Shouldn't take long - the 8F uses the same engine pods I presume?

 

[NM]

From the photos and description, surely the fix for the plane would be to replace the cowling around the engine.

While the tug repairs may not be quite so straight forward

 

[NM]

Maybe it was a Touareg doing the tow?

Ahh, that explains it ...

 

[Flying Fox]

Amazed at how the tug folded like a coke can!

 

[harvyk]

Amazed at how the tug folded like a coke can!

Not really... 300+ tons of metal vs a tug, my money is on the 300+ tons of metal, the box shape of the tugs cabin isn't exactly a strong shape, and I highly doubt they would install roll cages into the things...