Centerlock can occur in jet engines during an in-flight fire, causing catastrophic failure if the engine cannot be restarted. Metal components can shrink and interfere with each other, making restart impossible. Pilots follow procedures to prevent burnouts, but multiple errors can cause central lockout. Jet engine designers work to prevent failures.
Centerlock is a complication that can arise in jet engines when they experience an in-flight fire. Flames are produced when the flame inside the combustion chamber is extinguished, causing the engine to stop running. Pilots follow a precise set of procedures in an attempt to restart the engine. If they are unable to do so, a central lock can develop and the engine will experience catastrophic failure. It is possible to land the aircraft safely using the other engines and gliding techniques.
Jet engines are machined to extremely precise standards. Its moving parts are designed to perform in a well-choreographed ballet when the engine is running to generate high speed and efficiency. When the engine stops running abruptly, the temperature change can be substantial. Metal components inside the engine are not designed for these conditions and can begin to shrink.
As the pieces contract, they can change shape and size at different rates. Tight engine design tolerances can mean parts start to interfere with each other and freeze up. Within the core of the plane, components cannot rotate, which means that efforts like a windmill reset, where the plane dives to force the engine to spin again, will not be effective. Even if the flame in the combustion chamber can be re-ignited, the engine components will no longer fit and it will not be possible to restart.
Aircraft are designed with a number of fail-safe technologies to prevent burnouts, reducing the risk that pilots will find themselves in a situation where they may experience a central stall. In the event that the engines stall, pilots have a checklist of procedures to follow in order to start the engine as quickly as possible. If this fails, they can discuss emergency landing options to see if it is possible to stop the plane at an airport or area of level ground. While the plane may be damaged, it might be possible to protect the passengers and cargo.
This type of engine failure has been linked to various stalls. For central lockout to occur, pilots usually need to make several errors in handling an emergency, and the ultimate cause of a crash can be considered pilot error. Jet engine designers routinely test and redesign their engines to address problems such as core crashes, working to design equipment that is less likely to fail, even under extreme conditions.
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