EasyJet Flight: Rattling Gas Turbine (V2500)

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around a participant's experience of hearing a rattling and clicking noise from a V2500 engine during an EasyJet flight. Participants explore potential causes for the noise, considering whether it indicates a problem with the engine or if it is a normal occurrence. The scope includes technical explanations and personal experiences related to aircraft engine behavior.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses concern about the rattling noise and vibration, questioning if it indicates a genuine problem with the engine.
  • Another participant suggests that if there were a catastrophic issue, the engine would have failed completely, implying that the noise may not be serious.
  • Some participants question whether the noise originated from the engine itself or from other sources, indicating uncertainty about the cause.
  • There is a discussion about whether the engine was running or just rotating due to wind, with some participants emphasizing the importance of this distinction.
  • One participant explains that a rattling noise can occur when the fan blades are turned slowly by wind, describing the mechanics of blade movement and how it differs when the engine is running.
  • Another participant suggests that the throbbing noise could be due to the engines not running at the same speed, noting the synchronization mechanism between the engines.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the cause of the noise. Multiple competing views are presented regarding whether the noise indicates a problem or is a normal phenomenon, and there is uncertainty about the engine's operational status during the incident.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes assumptions about the engine's operation and the conditions under which the noises were heard, which are not fully clarified. There are unresolved questions regarding the timing of the rattling noise in relation to the engine's spool-up and flight status.

bill nye scienceguy!
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I was on an easyjet flight this morning and noticed a distinct and pronounced rattling, clicking noise coming from one of the engines. Not being a very good flier at the best of times (despite working in the aerospace sector) I was pretty worried. When the engines spooled up I was also sure I could feel a throbbing kind of vibration I wouldn't normally expect.

Clearly the engine didn't fail as I'm writing this now, but what could be the cause of the noise? Is there a genuine problem with the engine or is it a normal phenomenon I haven't encountered before? The airframe was an a320 and the engine I'm pretty sure was a v2500.
 
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If it was anything catastrophic, the engine would have just torn itsself to bits. The words rattle, vibration and high speed rotation just don't go together.

The rattle and vibration could have been anything and your mind was playing tricks on you. It's the tendency of people who aren't good fliers to think the worst about a situation.
 
Are you sure the noise came from the engine itself?

There are a lot of things that could cause a rattling noise.

EDIT: Beaten by Chris
 
was the engine running or just rotating due to wind acting on the fan blades?
 
c.smith10 said:
was the engine running or just rotating due to wind acting on the fan blades?

Well given the flight took place, I'd hope it was running.
 
You say in your original post that the rattling was heard before the engine spooled up which is why i asked if the engine was running or not, if was running I am not sure what the noise was, if it wasn't running i would have a fair idea,
 
c.smith10 said:
You say in your original post that the rattling was heard before the engine spooled up which is why i asked if the engine was running or not, if was running I am not sure what the noise was, if it wasn't running i would have a fair idea,

The noise during spool up was a separate issue.

However, the rattling was during the flight.

At least that's how it reads.
 
If tha fan was being turned round slowly by the wind while you were walking up the steps to board the aircraft, a "rattling" noise is perfectly normal. The fan blades are slightly loose in the disk, and they "topple over" with a click when they pass the 12-o-clock position as they rotate.

This doesn't happen when the engine is running, because the radial accelerations on the blades are (literally) thousands of times the force of gravity and that holds the blades fixed.

Most likely the "throbbing" noise was caused by the engines not running at exactly the same speed. There is an electronic link between the two engine control systems that synchronizes the speeds to prevent this happening all the time, but it is often switched off until the engines are properly warmed up after a cold start, and also during takeoff and landing (because if one engine slows down because of some failure condition, you don't want the other engine to automatically do the same!)
 

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