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A B747 flight crew on a trans-oceanic flight shut down number 4 engine when its oil quantity went to zero.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 782975 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200804 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : zzz.airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Altitude | msl single value : 29000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zzz.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B747-400 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level ground : maintenance |
| Route In Use | enroute : pacific |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 12000 flight time type : 2500 |
| ASRS Report | 782975 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : relief pilot |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 2000 |
| ASRS Report | 782976 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : published procedure |
| Independent Detector | aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : eicas other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : diverted to another airport |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
Narrative:
Approximately 6 hours into flight; engine #4 oil quantity decreased to '0.' captain indicated plan to shut down engine -- all other operating indications normal. Based on information found in the flight handbook; I repeatedly advocated a position of not shutting down the engine based solely on oil quantity and that we monitor oil pressure for abnormal indications before any shutdown. Maintenance advocated the same position. Captain elected to shut down engine absent any other abnormal parameter. Flight diverted to ZZZ for normal landing. Supplemental information from acn 782976: I was awakened from my break at the normal time; and was informed we were diverting to ZZZ for a low oil quantity indication. While I was out of the cockpit; the captain elected to shut down the #4 engine. The other relief pilot and I were not present during the discussions with maintenance or dispatch; and had little or no input into the decision to shut down or as to the selection of most suitable diversion field. The diversion was uneventful.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A B747 FLT CREW ON A TRANS-OCEANIC FLT SHUT DOWN NUMBER 4 ENG WHEN ITS OIL QUANTITY WENT TO ZERO.
Narrative: APPROX 6 HRS INTO FLT; ENG #4 OIL QUANTITY DECREASED TO '0.' CAPT INDICATED PLAN TO SHUT DOWN ENG -- ALL OTHER OPERATING INDICATIONS NORMAL. BASED ON INFO FOUND IN THE FLT HANDBOOK; I REPEATEDLY ADVOCATED A POS OF NOT SHUTTING DOWN THE ENG BASED SOLELY ON OIL QUANTITY AND THAT WE MONITOR OIL PRESSURE FOR ABNORMAL INDICATIONS BEFORE ANY SHUTDOWN. MAINT ADVOCATED THE SAME POS. CAPT ELECTED TO SHUT DOWN ENG ABSENT ANY OTHER ABNORMAL PARAMETER. FLT DIVERTED TO ZZZ FOR NORMAL LNDG. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 782976: I WAS AWAKENED FROM MY BREAK AT THE NORMAL TIME; AND WAS INFORMED WE WERE DIVERTING TO ZZZ FOR A LOW OIL QUANTITY INDICATION. WHILE I WAS OUT OF THE COCKPIT; THE CAPT ELECTED TO SHUT DOWN THE #4 ENG. THE OTHER RELIEF PLT AND I WERE NOT PRESENT DURING THE DISCUSSIONS WITH MAINT OR DISPATCH; AND HAD LITTLE OR NO INPUT INTO THE DECISION TO SHUT DOWN OR AS TO THE SELECTION OF MOST SUITABLE DIVERSION FIELD. THE DIVERSION WAS UNEVENTFUL.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.