Have you experienced the destruction of a Radial Engine

gary1954 · **Posted:** Mon Dec 29, 2008 3:37 pm

I was pondering the other day about a catastrophic engine failure of a Radial Engine, say, a P&W R2800. Has anyone of you “experienced” mechanics or A-Vee-ators, experienced/witnessed the destruction of a big Twin Row Radial? Has a jug ever blown off an engine and damaged/penetrated the fuselage, or blew the cowling off?
Any stories of the past that we would like to hear.

DoraNineFan · **Joined:** Fri Aug 12, 2005 3:37 pm **Posts:** 673

gary1954 wrote:

I was pondering the other day about a catastrophic engine failure of a Radial Engine, say, a P&W R2800. Has anyone of you “experienced” mechanics or A-Vee-ators, experienced/witnessed the destruction of a big Twin Row Radial? Has a jug ever blown off an engine and damaged/penetrated the fuselage, or blew the cowling off?
Any stories of the past that we would like to hear.

Somebody has managed to fit a 3350 in a tractor puller. I think it's only a matter of time before they grenade it, so keep checking on YouTube for the inevitable.

Here are a couple of articles on the consequences of hydraulic lock:
http://www.enginehistory.org/wbn/WBN01.pdf
http://www.enginehistory.org/wbn/WBN09.pdf

Airlift48 · **Joined:** Sat Oct 29, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 744

We've had a jug break loose at the studs, but it is not as dramatic as you might think.

The exhaust and intake pipes and other assorted bracketry held it in place reasonably. It simply went up and down with the piston. Engine didnt even hiccup, just spewed oil.

Also experienced internal destruction of an R-4360. Again, no dramatics. Oil out of the breather. Torque pressure low.

Turns out, piston and cylinder were eating themselves up and clogged the scavenge pump. After feathering and landing, engine would not turn any longer.

R-2000: Simply main bearing failure. High Oil temp, low Oil Pressure high Cylinder head temp.....

So far, in 13 years, nothing catastrophic, thank goodness.

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Mon Dec 29, 2008 4:26 pm

I was flying with JCW in T-6G #44 when the 1340 blew just has we became airborne. It was extremely violent jerking the a/c about 45' to the left. Jeff pulled the power off and it seized but he managed to get her straight and pull it down on the remaining runway. :prayer:

We also blew #1 2600 on the B-25 with resultant fire and emergency single engine landing at Fresno when the a/c sat fro about 4 months.
See my signature line below :shock:

Matt Gunsch · **Posted:** Mon Dec 29, 2008 4:26 pm

Does watching the Super Corsair come apart during the Phx 500 count ? Never saw the engine afterwards, but I did see the Corsair in the back of a pickup.

Airlift48 · **Joined:** Sat Oct 29, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 744

Yikes and Double Yikes!

RickH · **Posted:** Mon Dec 29, 2008 4:43 pm

A-26 # 2 engine.

The a rod broke out of a piston on the back row. When it hammered itself through the cylinder wall it took out the master rod, thereby killing the back row. Impact started a small post crash fire in the accessory section which was extinguished immediately.

When the aircraft hit the ground #1 prop dug in and jerked the propellor, reduction gears and nose cone off of the engine ! Propellor and gear box proceeded over the nose, took out the right windscreen, right canopy clamshell, prop hit the armorplating which deflected all between the fuselage and nacelle as everything kept sliding forward ! :shock:

The propellor gearbox combo was found about 50 ft behind the aircraft.

This all happened on takeoff.

Ztex · **Posted:** Mon Dec 29, 2008 4:59 pm

Jack and Rick...

Sounds like a great day for new underwear :shock:

I'll bet Larry Kraus has some motor tales

RickH · **Posted:** Mon Dec 29, 2008 5:23 pm

Yeah, we have a seat we're going to reuse in the rebuild. Sheetmetal guys had to pound the peak out of it first ! Of course I really feel sorry for the guy who had to retrieve it from the guy who was sittin' on it ! :shock:

engguy · **Joined:** Wed Mar 29, 2006 10:45 am **Posts:** 442

I have a 2800 master rod that broke at the flange for a A rod, also has a small section of broke A rod near the break through that is stuck to the K pin. Don't know what went first, I never saw the rest of the engine, I can imagine it wasn't a good sight. If it happened at a decent power setting it most likely made a huge mess of things.

CAPFlyer · **Posted:** Mon Dec 29, 2008 6:27 pm

There's an R3350 that has a date with death in the not to distant future. Wonder what it'll look and sound like...

retroaviation · **Posted:** Mon Dec 29, 2008 6:33 pm

CAPFlyer wrote:

There's an R3350 that has a date with death in the not to distant future. Wonder what it'll look and sound like...

Huh?!?

Gary

Neal Nurmi · **Posted:** Mon Dec 29, 2008 6:34 pm

Well I'm very happy to say that I've never witnessed a meltdown from inside the airplane -- but the results can be impressive...

Neal Nurmi · **Posted:** Mon Dec 29, 2008 6:35 pm

Hey Gary -- Tell us about your T-6 experience...

soko121 · **Posted:** Tue Dec 30, 2008 1:17 pm

Why yes...yes i have!!, i wont make the story too long.
My second trip as a new captain on our DC-3, 1997, we had just taken off from Georgetown headed for Laredo, were over San Antonio at 6K in the soup about 10 pm when i got that "feeling", carb temps were a little low, i asked connie our copilot to put on some heat, as she touched the knobs, the right engine exploded ( well it seemed it at the time ). There was a flash of flame visible in the window, the plane yawed drastically and the temperature in my seat rose drastically in about 1/2 a second. after feathering the engine and regaining some slight resemblance of a heart beat, we did a quick 180, notified ATC and headed back to GTU via, New Braunfels, San Marcos, Austin, and to Georgetown. we settled at about 4500ft and i handed over the controls and went back to look around. all i could see was that the cowlings were gone on #2. we flew back for 1 hour ( i know but thats a different story) and proceeded straight into 36 at GTU. Freefell the gear as no hydraulic pressure left in the system, and hand pumped the flaps, i had connie on the handpump ready for brakes and we landed and rolled clear at the end and im pleased to say coasted around the turn and came to a stop in front of our hangar. She exited the plane rather quickly, i was unfortunately unable to move!, i had to sit there for 5 minutes till my legs stopped shaking enough to walk, not fall down the cabin. when i got to the entrance door there was my dad with an outstretched hand with a cold adult beverage, i slumped down in the dooway to refresh myself.
Turns out the #2 master rod failed, blew the cyl off the engine , all that kept it around was the prop gov cable. All 3 cowling sections departed, one piece came forward and hit the prop, then went back, no damage to tail. The cowl flap actuator was gone and that why we lost hydraulic pressure. Welcome to being a freight dog!!!
Somewhere in south texas is a shiny worn piece of cowling with a P&W emblem on it in some farmers field, im sure of it!

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