UA840 20/10

[Jason H]

Anyone knows what's going on with this guy? He's been circling off the coast for about 30mins, no doubt returning. They have shut down and are inspecting 34L for around the next 45mins (burst tyre or tail strike?). VA1 and CX100 have both shutdown near 34L threshold.

[Anthony K]

Im there at the observation deck atm. Seen several utes up and down the runway. Maybe blown tyre.

[Alex T]

Exploded tyres all over the runway according to ATC.

[Jason H]

Just heard a controller say a couple of blown tyres are the reason

[Kurt A]

07 ops now in progress.

[Alex T]

Looks like it's about to make an emergency landing soon according to ATC.

[Trevor Sinclair]

http://www.flightradar24.com/#./UAL840?&_suid=138224733052108903832374194562

[Clive G]

Around 3pm or so noticed a 744 heading east over the northern beaches fairly low with only its nosewheel down... couldn't see but guessed it would be a United departure. So it's interesting to see this thread.

[Anthony K]

Only blown tyres or damages to the main gears as well?

[Grahame Hutchison]

Still some holding going on at 1746L ...

http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/ADS-B-20131020.jpg

[Grahame Hutchison]

ACARS transmission from UA0840 ...

ACARS mode: S Aircraft reg: .N182UA
Message label: 5Z Block id: 0 Msg. no: M90A
Flight id: UA0840
Message content:-
/B6 SYDSYD SYD R34L F25
-------------------------------------[20/10/2013 15:52]

ACARS mode: S Aircraft reg: .N182UA
Message label: 5Z Block id: 8 Msg. no: M85A
Flight id: UA0840
Message content:-
/C6 SYDLAX SYD UA 840
BLEW A TIRE ON TAKEOFF.
WE ARE DUMPING FUEL.
BE BACK IN SYD IN ABOUT 40 MIN.
CAN YOU GET US HOTEL ROOMS PLEASE.
-------------------------------------[20/10/2013 15:34]

[Sarah C]

What a mess - all pax will be spending another night in SYD. The SFO flight delayed, no doubt to try and get as many pax onto that flight.

[James P.]

I saw the plane climbing over Sydenham with the gear still down...didn't think too much of it at the time. This thread has explained a lot.

[Maikha Ly]

For those on Facebook, some photographs of the damage can be found here, courtey of Airline Hub Buzz:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=551966111541399&set=a.121399214598093.21692.100001840447715&type=1&relevant_count=1

[Mark Grima]

I'm guessing this has had lasting effects? The wifes flight to Canberra is a couple hours late. As are all other flights that have an aircraft coming from or going to Sydney.

Cheers

M

[Philip Argy]

The damage seems quite severe, although hard to judge how much was attributable to the landing run as distinct from the takeoff. At least it was a trailing underbody bogie rather than a leading underwing bogie where I assume a tyre explosion like this could have been much more serious.

[Mark Grima]

Also Air NZ A320 ZKOJN from AKL diverted to CBR after holding off the coast, I'm guessing due to fuel? Any other diversions?

Cheers

M

[Zac M]

QF56 also diverted to CBR

[Alex Lui]

Yup, delays left right and centre. I was on QF805 due 1850 and we landed at 2030. QF807 is due 2200 while VA672 or the last Virgin flight from Sydney due 2300. We were told by the captain they shut the runway again after we took off.

I knew there was something odd about today when I arrived to see ZK-OKP take off from the short runway and 2 A380s do the same... I wonder if QF1 went somewhere else for more fuel since it used the shorter runway??

All I say is thank goodness for the upgraded plane with touchscreen IFE! :)

[Andrew Coggan]

I knew there was something odd about today when I arrived to see ZK-OKP take off from the short runway and 2 A380s do the same... I wonder if QF1 went somewhere else for more fuel since it used the shorter runway??



QF1 departed to DXB as normal Alex. Was easily the lowest departure as it climbed out though.

[Grahame Hutchison]

This is what today's flights look like now, plenty of holding to the north, south and east. The north-south track off the coast between YSSY and the holding pattern to the east at SHARK, will be UA840.

http://www.16right.com/MessageBoard/ADS-B-20131020-B.jpg

[JamesL]

There were plenty of ground delays in MEL, MEL_GND went to pushback slots, had one aircraft push but get pulled back on to the bay...TT had a 2 hour ground delay.

[John Lush]

Just wondering why 16L/34R was not used to ease the congestion?

[JamesL]

Because of crossing traffic.

[Alex T]

One of Australian Aviation's readers photo's of UA840's tyre blow out - http://australianaviation.com.au/2013/10/united-747-400-suffers-tyre-failure/

[Philip Argy]

The linked photos seem to have been taken from a boat anchored to the west of 34L - certainly very good timing!. Curious that the tyres apparently blew so early in the takeoff run too. Doesn't that suggest that they ran over some debris on the runway?

[Philip Argy]

Can anyone advise us whether it is usual for a tyre to blow so early on a takeoff roll?

[Jayden Laing]

The linked photos seem to have been taken from a boat anchored to the west of 34L - certainly very good timing!.

It looks to have been taken from either the very end of the beach carpark or the from the breakwater just under the old control tower! Certainly not taken from a boat (too elevated)!

[Philip Argy]

From the angle and elevation it must be the breakwater, then - well spotted, Jayden.

[Hugh Jarse]

Philip, it's not really usual for tyres to blow at any particular stage of the takeoff (or landing) sequence. It's just the luck of the draw. The reasons are endless, from foreign object damage to overheating to production fault, tread separation, etc, just to name a few.

Good to see they continued and sorted it out airborne. Well done to the crew :)