Submitted by Captain K. M. Jones -
B-727 engine failure May 7, 1988 - fin #422
We were on our second day of a three day pairing operating YXE-YQR-YYZ-YEG when climbing through FL200 on a clear night the aircraft started moderate shaking.
My first thought was we had run into something as there were no lights nor bells just a ‘whole lot of shaking going on’. We then noticed the number 2 engine EGT rapidly increasing so the First Officer called for the engine shutdown drill which we completed.
I instructed the F/O to stop the climb reduce the airspeed and I requested a clearance to YYZ. The shaking finally stopped when the engine seized. I advised the passengers we were returning to Toronto because of an engine failure and asked the S/O to go to the rear of the aircraft and look for any visual damage. Fortunately the engine containment shroud held as no damage was found in the cabin.
When clear of the runway I asked for the fire trucks to inspect the rear of the aircraft before going to the gate as we didn’t know the extent of the damage.
After we parked at the gate and deplaned the passengers I went to the back of the aircraft where I met a mechanic in the rear stairwell who had already lowered the #2 engine cowling. His first words to me were “What have you done to my airplane”.
In true Air Canada fashion we all pulled together, borrowed the aircraft at the next gate, transferred the passengers, cargo and fueled our new aircraft and departed about an hour late.
I was later told we had a #3 stage compressor engine failure that was known to happen in the industry but unknown to us. The shaking of the aircraft was the result of the engine compressor blades rotating unbalanced. Common sense but nice to know.
K. M. (Ken) Jones Capt. A340 retired