B747-400
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Training / Qualification; Troubleshooting
Inflight Event / Encounter Bird / Animal
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Environment - Non Weather Related
We had flown the aircraft earlier; landing having landed about 9 hours earlier. The weather was a high ceiling overcast; good visibility; with light icing during the descent through the clouds at approximately 10;000 FT. On landing and rollout there were no abnormal engine indications noted; the aircraft was taxied in on all 4 engines. Shutdown was normal; all checklists were accomplished with the APU running and providing power. The IRO completed a post flight walk around while the remaining crew off loaded their bags to the waiting van for customs. It should be noted that there was a light wind aft to forward of the aircraft and the engines were still slightly spinning thus making it impossible to clearly see the blades at that time. We returned to the aircraft after a short hotel layover to continue our flight. While the crew began their internal preflight; the IRO conducted his preflight walk around; at which time he discovered severe stator blade damage to the Number 1 engine. He quickly notified the Captain and crew as well as the onboard Tech who had also just noted the damage earlier; as to the severity of the damage. The blades were no longer spinning; allowing the crew and Tech to see them clearly. It was noted that 14 blades were damaged; slightly to severe; and that there were remains of a bird around the upper portion of the acoustic ring as well as obvious wear to the same area where the blades had scrubbed against the ring. The flight was canceled and FBO was notified by both the Tech and the Captain after entering the damage in the logbook. Pictures of said damage were taken by the Tech and Captain and will be forwarded to safety. There wasn't an operating ATIS at the time of arrival; current weather was provided by the FBO and Tower and there was no mention of birds in the vicinity. However; it should be noted that birds have been a hazard in the past at this airport! After discussing it with the Tech it was determined that the bird strike had probably occurred on very short final or during the immediate rollout and reverser deployment due to some of the bird parts located in the reverser section as well as around the acoustic ring.
A B747-400 number one engine sustained extensive stator vane damage when it apparently ingested a bird during thrust reverser operation on the previous landing.