GE made plane's engine in Cincinnati

American Airlines flight 587 crashed into Queens, N.Y., yesterday, bringing with it a reoccurrence of fear and terror, as many remembered the Sept. 11 attacks.

As of now the cause of the crash is unknown.

“They don’t know if it’s the engine yet,” said Mike Dunn, Director of the Gas Turbine Laboratory. “It’s probably too early to attribute the crash to the engine.”

The engine, a CF6-80C2, which fell off of the plane, was made in Cincinnati by the General Electric Co.

There are two ways for the engine to unattach from the airplane, according to Joseph Haritonidis, an associate professor of Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mechanics and Aviation.

Haritonidis said when the compress disc or the turbine disc – a metal disc two to three feet in diameter which usually rotates between six to eight RPM – becomes cracked, there is potential for damage to the plane.

“When this happens it is possible for the disk to disintegrate. The parts take off like projectiles and can damage the plane,” Haritonidis said.

The other way for an engine to unattach is less serious because airplanes, as a safety precaution, are designed to be able to fly with only one engine.

“An engine is held onto the wing by an arm that is attached by two to four bolts. The engine could fall if the bolts are defective or if they haven’t been attached properly,” said Haritonidis. “This way wouldn’t cause any damage to the plane. They are designed for this.”

According to Beth Leidy, travel agent for Regency Travel, it is too early to tell whether this event will have any effect on ticket sales to New York and in general.

“After the Sept. 11 attacks, prices fell, but that’s usual for that time of year,” said Leidy. “As of right now, there is no decline in the number of people flying to New York because the area has great values right now.”

The Sept. 11 attacks have not stopped students from planning spring break trips or making arrangements to go home for the holidays either, Leidy said.

“Right now is a good time for students who are looking for a value to make plans,” Leidy said.