Frontier A320/CFM56

[Wodrick]

I've just been sent this.
Cowlings opening on an A320 not particularly unusual. What is unusual to me is that while the Fan cowls are open and have mostly departed the reverser cowls are open too.
The reverser cowls are seriously heavy bits of kit to open by hand, three men easily.
They are normally pumped open with a hand hydraulic pump.

[Slasher]

Not sure Wodrick but it could be a case of reverser unlocked in flight during high speed. I'd have to look at the details of the incident first.

Hand hyd pump: you talking about the Y electric pump? I didn't know you could get the reverser open using the Y hand pump which (only?) opens the aft cargo door when the door switch is inop.

[Wodrick]

It had just departed, only in the air a total of 15mins it seems. Straight off an overnight so probably not properly secured.

No it's a portable pump, like a bike tyre pump that's been on steroids. You connect it for the purpose and remove it afterwards.

images.jpg (8.48 KiB) Viewed 174 times

[Slasher]

Hmm...15 mins should put it at 250kt indicated (250 is max below 18,000 ft in the States). Cowl openings though, at that speed, shouldn't unlock the reverser. Again I'd have examine the incident.

Nice li'l pump you got there. IIRC you need about 1450psi min to get the reverser cowls to budge.