Support for electric machine in a turbine engine

A gas turbine engine comprising:

• a high pressure spool and a cooperating low pressure spool;
• an accessory mounted in a tail portion of the engine and substantially coaxially with the low pressure spool, the accessory having an interface for coupling with the low pressure spool;
• a first support securing the accessory to a structure of the engine, the first support supporting a first portion of the accessory proximal to the interface and substantially maintaining alignment between the interface and the low pressure spool;
• and
• a second support securing the accessory to the structure of the engine, the second support supporting a second portion of the accessory distal from the interface, the second support providing a lower resistance to relative displacement between the electric machine and the structure of the engine than does the first support.

A method for supporting an electric machine in a tail portion of a gas turbine engine, wherein the electric machine has an interface for coupling to a shaft of a gas turbine engine, the method comprising:

• supporting a first, forward portion of the electric machine proximal to the interface to substantially maintain positioning of the interface relative to the shaft, including supporting a majority of the weight of the electric machine at the first, forward portion of the electric machine;
• supporting a second portion of the electric machine distal from the interface;
• and
• providing a lower resistance to relative displacement between the second portion of the electric machine and the structure of the engine than between the first portion of the electric machine and the structure of the engine.