A multiple MTBF failure story
-
For the last month or two, I've been flying Starship with a 5x MTBF failure rate. Most failures have been relatively minor, burned out bulbs and such. Today was a different story.
Flying over the Indian Ocean from Seychelles to Comoros, FL340 at night, 250 nm from destination, when suddenly the oxygen warning pops up on the EICAS. I immediately initiate a steep descent to 12,000. At about 125 nm out, I discover that the right engine torque no longer responds to throttle changes. I opt to continue until I'm on approach.
About ten miles out, I cutoff fuel to the right engine and feather the prop. I should probably have cut some of the electrical load too, because a few minutes later, about 5 nm from touchdown, something trips and everything goes dark except for the EICAS and the standby instruments. I manage to land at Comoros in darkness.
-
Amazing!! Thank you for sharing. You know these are my favorite stories, and I consider each one to be a testimonial. This is exactly why I put so much effort into my systems. No system stands alone, and no failure is a single point. As we've learned from watching Mayday, Seconds From Disaster, and alike, "Disasters don't just happen, they're a chain of critical events." Thank again for sharing, and thanks for enjoying Starship the way she was meant to be
