B777 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200; Flight Crew Total 12000; Flight Crew Type 5000
Communication Breakdown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Company Policy
All was normal except when we got to the gate. On shutdown; there was a rumbling and vibration which all four pilots noticed and mentioned as unusual. Several minutes after block in; the mechanic plugged into the flight interphone and stated 'So you broke it'. We replied 'Not that we were aware'. The mechanic went on to tell us that they were going to replace the left engine. They had received ACARS data while in flight showing that there was a problem with the left engine. He also stated that they could hear the engine whining; as we came around the terminal; that it sounded really bad and there was a 'puff of blue smoke' that came out of the front of the engine on shutdown. Note that the mechanic did not say 'we need to inspect the left engine' or 'we are going to have to evaluate the left engine' he stated that the left engine was going to be replaced! Based; we assume; on the ACARS data downloaded while inflight. The aircraft was indeed grounded causing the cancellation of that days return flight. As of our departure the next day; there was a new engine being shipped over as well as a mechanic team to replace the engine. We had received an ACARS message from Maintenance Control about 8 hours into the flight. I was on second break with the captain at this stage of the flight. I did not see the ACARS message or see who it was from; Maintenance Control or Dispatch; the pilots on duty stated that Maintenance Control had been getting alerts sent from the left engine. The EGT and engine vibration was higher. They asked if everything looked normal to us. The pilots on duty sent back a message that all looked normal on the flight deck. That was the only communication I am aware of while in flight. There was nothing that lead us; or them; to believe there was a problem with the engine. After we heard from the mechanic on the ground we also noticed a fuel imbalance which was not there at top of descent as I remember checking fuel before we started decent. I am not sure but I remember the fuel imbalance was around 2000 lbs. More used by the left engine. It would seem to me that we clearly had an engine that was about to fail. I have other information which is hearsay but nonetheless relevant to this incident. During walk-around the next day; on the flight out; a mechanic approached the First Officer doing the walk-around and ask if he was one of the pilots that brought in the plane with the bad engine. He showed him some photos taken of the bad engine showing severe damage. The mechanic asked him why Maintenance Control didn't tell us to return. He told him we didn't get the ACARS message from Maintenance Control until about 8 hours into the flight. The mechanic said that he pulled up the engine readings for the entire flight. The mechanic stated that the engine was fine at level off but started sending some abnormal readings soon after that. Other relevant information is that the captain of this flight; saw the Chief Pilot by chance after returning from this trip. The Chief pilot said he was notified of the engine issue several hours before landing! It would seem that whatever they saw was bad enough to contact the Chief Pilot but not to inform the PIC. My concern from the limited information I have is that the captain and flight crew were not kept informed of possibly vital safety information regarding the condition of the left engine. At this point; I consider this to be a violation of FAR 121.537 on behalf of the company.
B777 First Officer reports being asked by Maintenance Control; eight hours into a flight; to check the left engine for any anomalous indications as it had been sending alerts. None are noted. Upon shut down at destination strange noises are heard and a mechanic informs the crew that the engine will have to be changed.