Jet engines, despite providing all the necessary thrust to propel and maintain a jet in the air, are larger than they appear in photographs. They are so big that some jet engines are even bigger than an average person. So, the question arises: is it possible to get sucked into a jet engine?
Yes, it is indeed possible for a human to be pulled into a jet engine. Typically, this occurs when an individual disregards the safety measures established by the airport/airfield to avoid such incidents.
In specific situations, individuals can indeed be pulled into a turbine engine, due to the immense efforts made to prevent it, although this occurrence is extremely uncommon.
If jet engines are powered up, even when idling, they require huge volumes of air to work properly, which is accomplished by using a compressor to “suck” air through the engine.
These compressors are extremely potent, necessitating approximately 1.2 million tons of air per second, to put it mildly. They possess enough strength to elevate a full-grown person and draw them into the engine, thanks to the suction generated by the engines, even when not in use.
It’s not only humans who can also be pulled through a jet engine. Jet engines have been known to suck in a wide range of objects, including but not limited to pretty much everything, ever since their invention.
Indeed, certain individual airplanes have developed a bit of a reputation for engulfing people, specifically.
DC-10s and L-1011s have gained a similar reputation among airlines worldwide, while the A-6 Intruder from Grumman was perhaps the most famous frontline jet of the US Navy.
What Safety Measures Are There to Avoid This?
Engineers and pilots alike dislike jet engines that suck in air, so passengers are advised to steer clear of the designated safety cones in the jet engine area, as there are a series of other safety measures in place at firms, airports, and Part 145 facilities.
Walkways use the through – it’ll probably miss it, you’re actively looking for it, unless quite slyly do this airports, passengers for.
Upon boarding an aircraft, there are two ways to enter: either through jetways or ribbons. This may be familiar to you if you have experienced a commercial flight.
The second method, depending on the seat number, involves following a walkway marked by ribbons, which leads one group of passengers to the front of the aircraft and another group to the rear. The first method, which is the most common, is the jetway – a bridge that directly connects the terminal to the aircraft.
Both the engine and the passenger are set out to ensure that you are more than clear of the minimum safe distance, in order to avoid any inadvertent or deliberate sucking.
Engineers, however, depend on getting close to the aircraft regardless of whether their engines are on or off, in order to ensure the safety of the sets they have and adhere to procedures.
What is The Safe Distance to Avoid Getting Sucked into a Jet Engine?
The power and size of the engine in a jet vary depending on how it is sucked into the jet, in order to avoid getting too close and maintain a safe distance.
For instance, a pair of CFM International CFM56 engines that propel a Boeing 737-800 requires a minimum safe distance of about 14 ft (4.2 m).
GE Passport engines, is a Global 7000 business jet that has a minimum safe distance of 5 ft 6 in (1.67 m).
In regards to each type of jet, there is no general estimate or guideline that can ensure safety since each aircraft has its own unique minimum safe distance.
Prior to or perusing it in the aircraft’s maintenance log, you will probably be informed about the minimum acceptable distance assuming you are required to be in close proximity to the aircraft engine while it is operational.
In order to demonstrate this and prevent individuals from falsely assessing the distance, a sequence of cones is typically used to indicate the minimum safe distance in non-military aviation (where variations in circumstances can occasionally occur).
These cones are usually placed slightly further than the minimum safe distance to avoid getting sucked into the engine, in case a person accidentally enters, so they should be fine, as an additional layer of redundancy.
With that being mentioned, it is advisable to refrain from entering the cordoned-off zone at any expense in order to ensure safety.
Is it Possible to Survive Being Sucked into a Jet Engine?
Up until now, no individual has managed to survive the experience of being completely drawn into a jet engine. However, there have been instances where individuals have survived after being partially pulled into a jet engine before being saved by others. Regrettably, the answer remains negative.
In the worst-case scenario, these people have lost limbs and others have had to undergo amputation, without considering the psychological effects of such trauma. Some individuals have come away with just a few broken bones, while others have minor cuts and scratches.
The reason why no one has survived being sucked through a jet engine (and is unlikely to ever) is primarily because of how a jet engine functions.
If you look at the front of a jet engine, the first thing you’ll see is a series of blades that rotate at huge speeds, pushing 1.2 million tons of air per second.
When a human gets sucked into the engine of a jet, millions of small fragments are cut into them by these blades, which is the first thing that happens. These blades do not have the same sharpness as a knife, but they can move at a speed that makes them even deadlier.
Another useful gauge for a fresh batch of blades is the process through which the remnants pass before being expelled from the rear of the engine. To phrase it in a more polite manner, these remnants undergo a “cooking” stage before the individual proceeds into the combustion chamber, where whatever is left of them enters. However, the story doesn’t conclude there.
Being completely drawn into a jet engine guarantees that no individual can survive, and this is not a particularly enjoyable manner of passing, as you can likely envision.
Unless something radical happens to how jet engines work, it will remain impossible for people to survive being sucked through a jet engine.
How Dangerous is Foreign Object Debris (FOD)?
Humans are not the sole entities that can be sucked into jet engines. Anything on the runway that is not securely fastened or weighs less than a few tonnes runs the risk of being drawn into a jet engine if it is in close proximity.
These objects, collectively known as foreign object debris (FOD), can range in size from a cargo pallet as large as something to a chocolate bar wrapper as small as something.
FOD is the most hazardous threat on a runway, as a chocolate bar wrapper may not appear perilous; nevertheless, it can effortlessly cause destruction to a jet engine.
If an object weighing just a few grams is sucked into the turbine or compressor, it can easily damage the delicate blades by causing cracking, fracturing, or bending, especially when flying at a speed of a few hundred miles per hour.
Debris from another country has the potential to cause damage to the engine nacelles, leading to aerodynamic issues if not resolved before takeoff.
It is safe to say that Foreign Object Debris (FOD) is extremely hazardous and not something that should be underestimated.
This is one of the reasons why airports have pickup trucks or other types of cars that go up and down the runway, inspecting and looking for damage, primarily ensuring that there is no FOD near or on the runway.
References ▾.
Related Posts.