Section 13 – H

Engine Malfunctions

Section 13 – H Engine Systems

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GOVERNOR MALFUNCTIONS

On the engine output shaft there are three phonic wheels together with six speed sensors. These six
sensors provide six speed signals for various functions as shown below in Figure 45. The NTL Harness
relays these signals to their destination.

Three of these signals are sent to the ECU to provide speed governing. Only two signals however are
required to provide adequate governing. Should signals be lost, the pilot is faced with various situations
as detailed below.

3 Speed Signals
for Engine Governing

265 Nr

High Speed Shaft

Main
Gearbox

Speed Signal for Power Calculator

and Nf Gauge

2 Overspeed
Signals

Figure 45 – Phonic Wheels & Engine Speed Signals

Loss of Single Signal If one of the three speed signals is lost, the GOV warning light will
illuminate on the 34∝ panel. The governor operates normally on its
remaining two signals and no action is required by the pilot.

Loss of Two Signals If two of the three speed signals are lost, the GOV warning light will
illuminate and the ECU will automatically run the engine down to idle.
This is indicated to the pilot by the torque gauge showing zero for the
affected engine.

The ECU is not capable of satisfactory governing and the engine must
be shut down.

Loss of All Signals The indications and result will be the same as for a loss of two signals
above.

Note – It is possible for the ECU to run the engine down to idle (zero torque) and not illuminate the GOV
warning light. In this case the engine must be shut down.

Section 13 – H Engine Systems

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OVERSPEED MALFUNCTIONS

The over-speed circuit requires two speed signals to operate over-speed protection correctly. See Figure
46. The following are specific malfunctions related to the over-speed system.

Over-speed Light ‘ON’ ‘Steady’

This indicates to the pilot one of two things –

1. The engine has shut down without an over-speed occurring. The OVSP warning will always
illuminate when Nf falls below 60 Nr equivalent.

2. If the engine is still running normally, one of the two signals from the phonic wheel sensors has been
lost. Over-speed protection has been lost on the affected engine as the system can not work with
only one speed signal.

In the event of an over-speed occurring, the pilot will have to contain the situation manually.

The engine should be shut down as soon as possible after landing.

Over-Speed Light ‘ON’ ‘Intermittently’

If the engine is still running normally, this indicates to the pilot that there is an intermittent connection in
the circuitry and over-speed protection has been lost on the affected engine as the system can not work
with only one speed signal.

In the event of an over-speed occurring, the pilot will have to contain the situation manually.

The engine should be shut down as soon as possible after landing.

Over-Speed Light ‘Flashing’ and associated engine has shut down

Failure

Main
Gearbox

2 Overspeed Signals

Figure 46 – High-Speed Shaft Failure

This indicates that the over-speed protection system has contained an engine over-speed and shut it
down.

The system is designed to shut down the engine when the Nf reaches 318 Nr equivalent. The most likely
cause of over-speed is failure of the high-speed shaft between the engine and the MGB. Failure unloads
the free power turbine and if not contained, it would over-speed and explode.

An electronic signal is sent to the over-speed and drain valve to shut down the engine. At the same time
the over-speed protection is removed from the non-affected engine.

The engine should be secured. The ‘flashing’ OVSP light should be pressed. This will restore over-speed
protection to the non-affected engine and the light will now remain ‘ON’ ‘steady’.

No attempt must be made to restart the affected engine.

Section 13 – H Engine Systems

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ENGINE FROZEN AT 28,200 NG

The most likely cause of this is loss of electrical signal to the Nf Servo valve in the FCU.

The ECU receives signals from the following –

1. Nf Speed Signals
2. Ng Speed Signal
3. T4 Signal
4. Anticipator Signal
5. Datum Ng Signal (PPNg)

Using these signals (shown schematically in Figure 47) the ECU sends a signal to the Nf Servo Valve in
the FCU. It is a spring-loaded flapper valve that moves in response to these electronic signals from the
ECU. It allows more or less fuel through the FCU to modify the datum Ng and hence actual Ng of the
compressor.

Should this electronic signal from the ECU be lost, the spring will hold the Nf Servo Valve in a fixed
position. This allows a fixed quantity of fuel through and gives a fixed datum Ng and therefore fixed
compressors speed. This spring position is equivalent to 28,200 Ng.

If the signal to the Nf Servo Valve is lost in flight The Nr should be contained between 250 and 270 RPM.

The SSL should be advanced or retarded in the manual range to balance the Ng’s.

If the signal to the Nf Servo Valve is lost on the ground, the engine will run-up rapidly. Both the engine
SSLs should be retarded to fast Idle.

Note – Turning off all the electrical power on the ground with the engines still running will cause loss of
signal to the Nf Servo Valve and both engines will run-up to 28,200 Ng. Ouch!!

265 Nr

Ng Phonic
Wheel
Phonic Constant
22,850 rpm
Main
Gearbox
Wheels

NTL Harness
1 2 3 Nf Signals
Fuel Control
Unit Nf Servo Valve
Control Signal
Nf Servo Valve
Electronic
Control Anticipator Signal
Datum Ng Signal
(PPNg) Unit

Actual Ng Signal

Figure 47 – ECU and FCU Interaction

Section 13 – H Engine Systems

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ENGINE RUN-DOWN OR RUN-UP

As mentioned under governor malfunction above the engine can run down under the influence of the
governor system following malfunction. However, providing that there are no GOV or OVSP lights
illuminated, it can be assumed that the run-down has been caused by other means.

There are various things that can cause the engine to run-up or run-down given the complexity of the
system but the following are possible causes.

1. Blockage in the FCU Fuel system.

2. Incorrect Datum Ng (PPNg) signal to the ECU

3. Incorrect signal to the Nf Servo Valve from the ECU

4. Partial failure of the Nf Servo Valve

Engine Run-Up

This can be contained by use of the SSL on the affected engine. It should be retarded into the manual
negative range to balance the Ng’s.

Engine Run-Down

Providing that the following indications are not present, the SSL of the affected engine may be advanced
into the manual positive range to balance the Ng’s.

1. GOV light illuminated

2. OVSP light illuminated

3. Affected engine indicating zero Tq

If any of these indications are present with an engine that has run-down, the engine should be secured.

Section 13 – H Engine Systems

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 INTENTIONALLY BLANK

Section 13 – H Engine Systems

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