NTSB: Undertorqued Bolt Caused $3.8M in Damage Aboard WSF Ferry

[Shifty]

The NTSB has released a report on a dangerous engine failure aboard the ferry Wenatchee after an overhaul in 2021. When an undertorqued bolt rattled loose, the engine threw a conn rod and half of a piston through an inspection cover, starting a fire and causing millions of dollars of damage.

Sometimes, “tight enough” is ok, but I still try to use a torque wrench whenever possible.

 

[long-cours.62]

We had similar

Sometimes, “tight enough” is ok, but I still try to use a torque wrench whenever possible.

problem with a "bolt" on a 250000T tanker ship.
She was a steam ship, turbines with thousand of revolution per minute and a shaft at 80rpm... It means huge reduction between and a small bolt "unscrew" itself inside this "gearbox".
we stopped in the middle of the golf of Guinea, open the box , remove a "crown" may be 5 m diameter.
Finish the travel to France at only 9kts and no more reverse...


For one small unscrew bolt...

 

[Fr8dog61]

Not to armchair quarterback, but it looks like poor workmanship. Considering they found a cigarette lighter in the oil during the test run. I bet the mechanics doing the overhaul all get a wizz quizz. (Drug test)

 

[Fr8dog61]

Not a turbine but a piston engine.

 

[long-cours.62]

May be you

Not a turbine but a piston engine.

misunderstood what I wrote , probably due to my poor level in English , in my example it was clearly a S/S ship.


Here you can see photo of this tanker , also a photo after the "unscrew" bolt problem when she was in repair in l'Estaque (Marseille) in 1975


Esso Paris (2) - (1969-1980)

 

[Fr8dog61]

misunderstood what I wrote , probably due to my poor level in English , in my example it was clearly a S/S ship.


Here you can see photo of this tanker , also a photo after the "unscrew" bolt problem when she was in repair in l'Estaque (Marseille) in 1975


Esso Paris (2) - (1969-1980)

Sorry… please don’t apologize for your English. At least you speak more than one language (unlike me).