Why are multiple engines different?

On Thu, 19 Oct 2006 22:37:08 GMT, Don Tuite wrote:
On Thu, 19 Oct 2006 21:57:43 GMT, "Allen"
wrote:

Umm, how many engines does a Boeing 727 have? I don't understand your
question. It would not be normal to T.O. with one of the three engines
inop.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Airlines_Flight_266

That article describes a 727 accident near Los Angeles in January
1969. The summary says the aircraft departed LAX with two of three
engine-driven *generators* operable (not with one *engine* inop),
and two minutes after takeoff the crew shut down the No. 1 engine
after a fire warning, taking a second generator offline. The single
remaining generator overloaded and shut down, leaving the aircraft
with no electrical power.

Flying at night over water in marginal conditions (visibility was
less than 3 miles in fog and rain) the crew was unable to maintain
control of the aircraft and it crashed into Santa Monica Bay four
minutes after takeoff. This accident led to the FAA requirement
for battery-powered standby instruments in transport category
aircraft.

You can download a PDF copy of the 1970 NTSB report (AAR70-06)
from the Embry-Riddle library's web site at:

http://amelia.db.erau.edu/reports/ntsb/aar/AAR70-06.pdf


ljd