Report: Nationwide B732 at Cape Town on Nov 7th 2007, engine detached on takeoff

[joeyb747]

Scary!   Story and pics below:

"A Nationwide Airlines Boeing 737-200, registration ZS-OEZ performing flight CE-723 from Cape Town to Johannesburg (South Africa) with 106 passengers and 6 crew, rotated for take off from Cape Town's runway 01, when the crew noticed the engine gauges for engine #2 (right hand, JT8D) spooled down to zero, the right hand thrust reverser indicated open, the #2 thrust lever retarded uncommanded. The crew continued the takeoff and once airborne the airplane began to roll right and left, yawed to the right and began to sink. The crew managed to regain control and established a normal climb out attitude, declared emergency and advised ATC of their intentions to return to the airport. The crew of another aircraft on final approach to runway 01 was informed by the tower of possible debris on the runway, but elected to continue the landing and subsequently reported a lot of debris on the runway. Emergency services needed about 14 minutes to clear the debris on runway 01 forcing the Boeing to hold at 3000 feet until the runway was clear, the crew subsequently managed a safe landing and taxied clear of the runway before the airplane was shut down. The captain subsequently left the cockpit to look at the engine through the cabin windows and was shocked to see the whole right hand engine missing from the wing. The passengers disembarked normally onto the taxiway."

From:

http://avherald.com/h?article=424af85f&opt=0