What would happen if an engine caught fire, mid flight, on a four engined jumbo?

Question

Are you doomed to certain death? Or is there some kind of external device which deals with it? What actually happens in such a case?

Answer 1

I have seen this on a documentary. They shut down the engine and put the fire out. Most aircraft are able to fly on only one engine in an emergency. I wouldn't get too worried as this is very rare.

Answer 2

The good thing with multi-engine aircraft! When there is a fire light on the annuncator panal (warning lights) they check if its a false or not. They do this by looking out the window and in some cases, where its hard to see a engine pressing your face into the window! Then you will cut off the fuel (on a B747-400 the switches are just in front of the throttle). Pull the fire surpressant handle for the engine (this will arm the suppresant bottles), turn (this releases the suppresant). If the aircraft was flying with the auto-throttle and auto-pilot engaged, the auto-throttle will automatically adjust the thrust on the remaining engines to compensate, and the auto-pilot will bank (turn) the aircraft a bit to compensate for drift. If this happens you will be flying with 75% of thrust which is still good enough to keep flying. The pilot may or may not notify the passengers, depending on how he thinks they would react.

Answer 3

I would think they would have automatic control for the three they have left.

Answer 4

the pilots would have to cut the fuel going to the engine, shut it down and activate the built in fire extinguishers

Answer 5

(more or less in order of occurence)

-pilots get master caution tone and light along with fire light

-pilots will check oil temps, pressures etc. and visually attempt to see if the engine is on fire

-they will pull the engine's fire handle on the overhead panel

-extinguishers will automatically be activated as the fire handle is pulled

-they will disconnect autopilot if engaged depending on airline procedures

-pilots will proceed with engine fire procedures, cutting off fuel flow, generator switches, etc.

-they will check engine status of the other engines and continue to monitor them closely

-they will notify ATC depending on circumstances: ie: just taken off, or almost at destination.

- the flight will continue normally, sometimes, the passengers are not notified.(pilot's discretion)

note, i answered as your question is asked, meaning it was about only 1engine having a fire and thus needing to be shut down. however, even if it were up to 3 engines, the same procedures would apply but the aircraft might need to descend to a lower altitude and head to the closest most suitable airport. obviously, when all 4 engines have failed, the pilot will notify ATC, passengers and establish a glide attitude in an attempt to reach a suitable landing location.

Answer 6

all commercial multi-engine aircraft are designed with a fire-handle in the cockpit that (1) shuts off the fuel to that engine (2) shuts off the generator on that enging (3) shuts off the hydraulic pump on that engine (4) shuts off any other system on that engine connected to the aircraft systems

It also arms the fire extinguishing system so that the pilot can discharge the fire suppressent to the engine nacelle.

Next:  Flying on 3 engines.  

except for a catestrophic failure (visible fire, smoke, turbine or fan failure, where you can see that 'something' is going on) or save for an announcement from the cockpit, passengers would very likely not know that the airplane was flying on 3 engines.  Even in the cockpit, the only thing they have to worry about is the performance ceiling (the pilots might have to take a slightly lower altitude for the balance of the flight) and an little rudder trim.  

Prudently, however, the crew will want to declare an "emergency" or "Precautionary" and go to the nearest suitable airport rather than the scheduled destination.

Answer 7

the pilots would shut the engine down and put the fire extinguishers on ( from inside the cockpit)

Answer 8

They'd shut down the engine that was on fire in order to stop it along with the wind, then carry on on the other three

Answer 9

engine fires are not a big problem. if a fire took hold in an engine the fuel would be turned off. the engine cowling houses a fire extinguishing system so this would be activated to put the fire out. as extra safety, the engine has fire wire around it. if a fire was to start the fire wire (essentially a fuse) would burn and shut down any important components to ensure they didnt also become damages so the flight would not be compromised. a plane can easily fly on one engine if the other went down

Answer 10

people would S**t themselves

Answer 11

Airplanes are designed to fly even with one engine out of commission. The crew would shut the engine down and activate the fire suppression system and start looking for the nearest airport at which they could land.

Answer 12

They would turn off the fuel,

No fuel no fire,

and continue with the journey

Answer 13

The fuel is shut off, and the pilo's dive and the rush of -30 degree air puts out the fire.

Answer 14

Turn off the fuel, turn on the built in fire extinguisher. 3 engines are fine...in practice this really is a non-event.

Answer 15

nothing much, the other 3 are more than capable of continuing the flight to the destination.