The Miami Miracle | The Amazing Story Of Eastern Airlines Flight 855

Summary

On May 5, 1983, Eastern Airlines Flight 855 faced a dire emergency shortly after takeoff from Miami when both engines two and three failed, leaving the crew with only one functioning engine. Captain Richard Boddy and his team expertly navigated the crisis, ultimately restarting one engine and returning safely to Miami, despite the initial oil pressure warnings that had indicated all engines were losing oil due to missing O-rings from critical components. Their skilled handling of the situation earned them accolades for outstanding airmanship, underscoring the vital interplay between pilot decision-making and mechanical reliability in aviation.

Takeaways

• 😀 Eastern Airlines Flight 855 was a Lockheed L1011 flying from Miami to Nassau on May 5, 1983.
• 😀 The flight experienced severe engine issues shortly after takeoff, leading to a critical emergency situation.
• 😀 Engine number 2 showed low oil pressure, prompting the crew to shut it down while in flight.
• 😀 All three engines reported low oil levels, which the crew initially believed to be faulty instrument readings.
• 😀 The crew was trained to trust their instruments but also needed to validate data in crisis situations.
• 😀 Despite losing two engines, Captain Richard Boddy and his crew managed to keep the plane airborne and return to Miami.
• 😀 The incident resulted in a rapid descent, with the crew preparing for a potential ditching in the Atlantic.
• 😀 Engine failures were linked to a critical oversight: missing O-rings on the master chip detectors during maintenance.
• 😀 The crew's decision to return to Miami was deemed appropriate given the circumstances and available information.
• 😀 For their effective handling of the emergency, the crew received the Award for Outstanding Airmanship.

Q & A

What was the flight number and destination of Eastern Airlines flight 855?

Eastern Airlines flight 855 was flying from Miami to Nassau in the Bahamas.

What significant features did the Lockheed L1011 have?

The Lockheed L1011 was notable for its autoland capabilities and was designed to compete with other large aircraft like the 747 and DC-10.

What issue did the flight engineer discover during the flight?

The flight engineer noticed that the oil pressure on engine number 2 was low and that the oil levels were inadequate.

What decision did Captain Boddy make after discovering the oil issue?

Captain Boddy decided to shut down engine number 2 and requested permission to return to Miami.

How did the crew respond when engine number 3 failed?

The crew prepared for a possible ditching, attempting to restart the engines while also notifying passengers of the situation.

What ultimately caused the engine failures on flight 855?

The engine failures were caused by all three engines being operated without O-rings on the master chip detecting magnetic probes, leading to oil leakage.

What was the crew's assessment of the situation regarding the flight's destination?

The crew believed they could safely return to Miami rather than attempt to land in Nassau, given the worsening weather and lack of radar guidance at Nassau.

What emergency assistance was arranged as the situation unfolded?

The Coast Guard and Air Force scrambled aircraft to assist, and six ships in the area were prepared to provide help.

What recognition did the flight crew receive for their actions?

Captain Boddy, Check Captain Thompson, and Flight Engineer Barnes were awarded the Award for Outstanding Airmanship for their handling of the emergency.

What procedural error contributed to the failure of the O-rings on the engines?

Mechanics failed to replace the O-rings after a routine inspection, mistakenly believing they were still in place, and did not run the engine long enough during testing to detect any leaks.