Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 150; Flight Crew Total 25000; Flight Crew Type 2500
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
We departed several minutes early due to the destination airport curfew. Noticed an EICAS GEN CONT R and overhead amber light at 1500AGL. AT 3000 feet directed by checklist to try single generator reset that was unsuccessful. Contacted Dispatch and Maintenance Control who were aware of the problem with ADS EICAS generator drive disconnect checklist was completed. Started APU shortly after first generator EICAS msg. Dispatch said with APU fuel burn and performance penalty with open door for 14 hour flight we would arrive to destination low on fuel. We decided to dump fuel and return.We stared dumping fuel [and] ATC gave us vector to parallel the coastline. We terminated fuel dump at FL230 [and] landed at our departure airport at 457;000 pounds; 3000 pounds below max landing weight.
When the right generator control failed on a long range B777 overwater flight; the fuel burn and drag penalties associated with utilizing the APU generator precluded continuing the flight. Crew dumped fuel and returned to their departure airport.