A gas turbine engine (20) and method for containing a fan inside an engine after a fan thrust bearing assembly failure. The engine (20) may comprise a fan (42), a housing (100) including a compartment (102), a fan shaft (104) inside the compartment (102) and comprising a bowl (108), a support structure (110) inside the compartment (102), a speed sensor pickup (114) mounted on the outer surface (120) of the bowl (108), a speed sensor (112) mounted on the support structure (110), and a fan thrust bearing assembly (41) disposed forward of the bowl (108). The fan thrust bearing assembly (41) including a bearing (126). The speed sensor (112) and the sensor pickup (114) define a defining a sensor gap (116). The bearing (126) and the outer surface (120) defining a fan thrust bearing gap (130), wherein the sensor gap (116) is less than the fan thrust bearing gap.